New Publisher Listing: Hardie Grant
firstwriter.com – Sunday June 15, 2025
A global media and publishing business on a mission to help emerging ideas thrive. Since 1997, we’ve been creating culture, sharing stories, and re-imagining the way brands connect with audiences.
Five top tips for adapting a short story into a novel
scottishbooktrust.com – Saturday June 14, 2025
Former New Writers Awardee and recently published author Alessandra Thom shares her top tips for adapting a short story into a novel.
The step from writing short stories to novels can seem insurmountable. Writing a short story of a few thousand words is vastly different from a novel of tens or hundreds of thousands. If a short story is a drop of water, a novel is the loch it falls into. But if you can write a short story, you can write a novel. All the elements, though different, are there: building suspense, developing character, creating a compelling plot and a vibrant setting, utilising themes and motifs.
I wrote my first novel by taking a short story I’d already written and adapting it. Here are my five top tips to help you do the same.
Read, re-read, then read again
Read your short story from beginning to end, then read it again. If you can, print it out so you don’t fall into editing it. Go over it with a pen, or add comments on your computer, highlighting moments you think are intriguing. These could be moments where it’s evident you’re only seeing one side of a character, or moments where there is a plot door open that your characters don’t walk through, or simply moments that make you feel something.
You’ll learn what kind of novel you want to write by discovering what resonates with you, and what opportunities excite you.
10 Novels Agents Have Seen a Billion Times, and How to Make Yours Stand Out
electricliterature.com – Saturday June 14, 2025
It is not easy to write a book or get published. I’ve been a literary agent for almost 20 years, and I’ve written six books myself, most of which are tucked away in a drawer. As an agent, I receive hundreds of query letters every month, all vying for a spot on my list and a chance to go out to editors to see if they’ll get published, too. It’s daunting to say the least.
The first battle is figuring out what to write. Clearly everything has been done before, no? I see familiar concepts and tired storylines every day. But if there’s nothing new under the sun, how can writers stand out to agents and editors while also giving readers what they want and maybe taking advantage of trends?
There’s so much to say on this topic that I basically wrote a whole book about it. Writing Write Through It: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life helped me better understand how writers can navigate the weird, opaque, and confusing publishing landscape. There are no shortcuts or sure things, but my bird’s eye view of the industry has given me some insight, starting with what to write.
Way back in 2017, I wrote about the novels literary agents see all the time. No more zombies, I said back then. Now, times have changed! You can write a zombie novel if you want! It’s time for an update. I’m back to tell you about 10 novels that fill agent’s inboxes these days, but also how you can make yours stand out from the crowd. You can write anything you want. The key is to think about the reader, too.
Hailsham Festival launches 2025 creative writing competition
sussexexpress.co.uk – Saturday June 14, 2025
CALL FOR ENTRIES! -SUBMISSION DEADLINE 1ST AUGUST. Creative writing has always played a big part in the Hailsham Festival and once again the Creative Writing team at Hailsham Festival is running their annual competition for writing short stories and poetry.
This year we are inviting submissions from junior, teenager and adult writers in the following short story and poetry categories:
The Horror of a Border: Laura Elliott On Writing the Abject
crimereads.com – Saturday June 14, 2025
It’s perhaps the question every horror writer dreads being asked the most, yet it happens with alarming frequency. Recently, this question was asked by my mum, a woman who, by her own admission, “doesn’t like anything that couldn’t be real”. Nevertheless, a couple of months ago she gamely read an advance copy of my debut horror novel, Awakened, and then called to ask me: why?
It was a question I’d expected, and on that afternoon, phone in hand as I reorganized my kitchen cupboards, my first impulse was to reassure her that my fascination with horror came from a desire to understand the darker impulses of humanity, rather than because I harbored any disturbing proclivities towards violence myself.
However, after I hung up the call, I began to think a little more deeply about why horror has always drawn me in. What is it about this particular genre that keeps on pulling me back?
Certainly, as a disabled woman, on the face of it horror isn’t the easiest genre to find a comfortable home in. It’s a place where disability is often used as a lazy “narrative prosthesis”—or visual shorthand—for moral or social decay. Where women suffer gratuitously, and sometimes sexually, at the hands of monstrous men.
The Rise of Indie Authors: Why Self-Publishing is Booming in 2025
rollingstone.co.uk – Friday June 13, 2025
For decades, the overarching umbrella genre of fiction has continued to dominate the bookish community. While it remains considered the most popular form of literature, how authors produce and publish their work has significantly shifted.
As reader behavior fluctuates and accessibility to technological advancements increases, these systemic changes power a surge in independent fiction publishing.
Out with Gatekeeping, In with Algorithms: A Modern Publishing Economy
The need for traditional fiction publishers and the print market has declined since 2018. Fortunately, this drop did not indicate that consumers were no longer interested in reading books. Instead, seasoned authors ascribe the decline to a rise in self-publishing practices. Self-publishing empowers indie authors to surpass conventional publishers and spread their written works more directly. Although many might assume e-books would hold their ground, the comprehensive electronic book market for legacy publishers has also endured a downturn. That said, the growing prominence of digital audiobooks somewhat counterbalances this slump.
Publishing platforms like Wattpad, Vella, Ream, and Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) have removed most of the friction associated with regular fiction distribution. KDP, in particular, continues to impact book circulation by leveling publishing. This Amazon-bound platform provides authors with direct reader access, allowing them to expand the exposure of their pieces.
Allow the writing inspiration to flow
fortmyers.floridaweekly.com – Friday June 13, 2025
Round 4 of Florida Weekly Writing Challenge begins
The 15th annual Florida Weekly Writing Challenge launches its fourth round this week, offering photo prompts to inspire readers to write short stories. For Round 4, you have until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, to email us your original story. You may submit only one story per each two-week round.
Writing Challenge rules for this year
1. For each round, you have until 11:59 p.m. of the listed deadline date to email us your original story using only one of the two photographs shown for the round as your starting point.
2. Type your first and last name, email address, phone number and city/state of residence above your story.
3. Next, type a title at the top of your masterpiece.
4. Keep your entry to a maximum of 750 words, which includes your contact information and title (no minimum word count). No poetry, please.
Bloody Scotland crime-writing festival line-up announced
bbc.co.uk – Friday June 13, 2025
Authors Kate Atkinson, Kathy Reichs and Jo Nesbo will be among those appearing at this year's Bloody Scotland crime-writing festival in Stirling.
Rebus creator Sir Ian Rankin is the first guest programmer for the festival, which runs in the city from 12 to 14 September.
The festival also includes Horrible Histories author Terry Deary and broadcasters Steph McGovern, Jeremy Vine and Rev Richard Coles.
Sir Ian described the event as "the world's friendliest and most-inclusive crime fiction festival."
Last call for entries to Wells Festival of Literature writing competitions
glastonbury.nub.news – Thursday June 12, 2025
Writers of all stripes have until 30 June 2025 to submit their work for this year's Wells Festival of Literature competitions.
With entries already pouring in from across the globe, the contest is drawing everyone from creative writing students to young rappers and poets.
There are four categories this year, each judged by a respected figure in the literary world: Open Poetry (Camille Ralphs), Short Story (Judith Heneghan), Book for Children (Fleur Hitchcock), and Young Poets (Sanah Ahsan).
Popcorn Writing Award opens submissions for 2025
westendtheatre.com – Thursday June 12, 2025
Submissions for the Popcorn Writing Award, run by film and theatre production company Popcorn Group, are now open for 2025.
The award celebrates bold, imaginative new writing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, offering a £6,000 prize fund that goes directly to writers recognised for their notable, groundbreaking scripts.
In addition to the prize fund, winners are also granted valuable support from the Popcorn Group and BBC writers, offering mentorship meetings and consideration for the BBC Writers Voices 2026 programme.
Established in 2019 by the Popcorn Group, the Popcorn Award champions fearless writing that “playfully and artistically tackles current affairs, questions societal norms, and contributes positively to public debate.”
To be eligible, plays must be new writing with fewer than seven preview performances prior to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and must be staged at one of the award’s partner venues.
As part of the award, all shortlisted writers are offered valuable mentorship meetings with the Popcorn Group. In addition, those based in the UK and Ireland will be eligible for a one-to-one meeting with the BBC Writers team. Eligible longlisted writers from the UK and Ireland will also be invited to submit their scripts for consideration as part of BBC Writers Voices 2026.
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