
How To Become A Published Writer
forbes.com – Sunday January 21, 2024

Becoming a published writer is difficult, but it’s definitely possible. From newspapers to magazines, there are plenty of places to pitch. And pitching is super competitive. Some journalists have decades of experience and are more likely to have pitches accepted than writers who haven’t been published.
Before you decide to email an editor, make sure you do your research to craft solid pitches. For people who’ve never pitched it can be severely disappointing. Out of my first one hundred pitches I got one response— and it was a yes. If I had given up after my initial ninety nine rejections I wouldn’t be writing for this publication today.
So, before you throw in the towel, think about all of the possibility. The possibility of getting published. The possibility of writing such powerful words that you move the masses. The possibility of writing for prominent publications for the rest of your life. If I can give any advice on pitching it’s this— don’t stop pitching. Are you interested in becoming a published writer? Here are a few tips.

New Literary Agent Listing: Lynette Eason
firstwriter.com – Friday January 19, 2024

I am looking for Christian authors wishing to write and sell to the Christian market. This means that I’m searching for clients who adhere to the teachings of Christ and Scripture. I’m looking to represent authors of all types of Christian fiction. I’m also interested in YA nonfiction and may be interested in some adult nonfiction, depending on the topic. I am not looking for children’s books.

Influx Press ends acquisitions hiatus
thebookseller.com – Friday January 19, 2024

Independent publisher Influx Press has ended its acquisitions hiatus, with several new titles scheduled for 2024 and a plan to resume full operations by 2025.
Co-founders Kit Caless and Gary Budden founded Influx Press in 2011, seeing significant success with the James Tait Black-winning Attrib. by Eley Williams in 2017, Eliza Clark’s Boy Parts in 2020, and Percival Everett’s Booker Prize-shortlisted The Trees in 2022.
Caless is stepping back from day-to-day operations to pursue academic interests, but will remain on board as editor-at-large.
Budden will be spearheading a new list and new direction for the press. He said: “I’m delighted to have made the decision to continue Influx, after a necessary period of rest and reflection deciding the future direction we wanted to take the press in. I am very excited about our 2024 titles and to be continuing our commitment to publishing bold and innovative literature."

Literary speed dating: swipe left or right?
artshub.com.au – Friday January 19, 2024

It’s the start of the year, so maybe one of your resolutions is to make more meaningful connections – not so much in a romantic fashion, but in a career sense. Do you have a manuscript set aside, little time and no idea how to proffer it to the right hands, so that it may eventually become published? Literary speed dating may be the answer. But, beware, it requires preparation and may not be the right avenue for those too shy and nervous to pitch in person.
Like the regular dating format, the literary version follows a similar principle of setting up participants with a limited time to engage with one another – tête-à-tête or online. With this quick-talking, power chat formula, you can try and gain interest in your book with a number of industry professionals. Perhaps a better name for it would be literary speed pitching.

Papatango Announce 2024 New Writing Prize
theatreweekly.com – Thursday January 18, 2024

Papatango today announce that their 2024 New Writing Prize will open for submissions at noon on Wednesday 17 January, until noon on Monday 11 March. This Prize launches a new partnership with Park Theatre, who will co-produce the winning play with Papatango in a full run on their main stage.
Judged anonymously, the Papatango New Writing Prize was the UK’s first, and remains the only annual, opportunity guaranteeing a new writer a full production – for 2025 in Park200 at Park Theatre, publication by Nick Hern Books, a royalty of 8% of the box office, and a £7,500 commission with full developmental support.
In addition, every entrant receives feedback on their script – a commitment made by no other company, especially significant as the Prize averages more submissions on a yearly basis than any other playwriting award.

How to Write a Query Letter
electricliterature.com – Wednesday January 17, 2024

A practical guide to getting literary agents interested in your book
When submitting to an agent or editor, you will need a query letter. The purpose of a query letter is to briefly introduce yourself and your work to the editor or agent, with the hope they’ll be intrigued enough to want to read more.
Here is a rather typical method I’ve used. Most query letters contain three or four paragraphs, and you’ll want to keep it to no more than a page, single spaced. [Please note: I’ve inserted additional comments in brackets.]
First Paragraph
There are one of two ways to approach the first paragraph. You can keep it simple by stating the name of your work, the genre, and why you are querying this particular agent or editor. For example, here is what I used for How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences.

New Magazine Listing: Butcher's Dog
firstwriter.com – Wednesday January 17, 2024

Proudly edited and published in the heart of North East England. We print two unthemed poetry magazines each year in Spring and Autumn. Every issue features original cover artwork and contains a selection of up to twenty-five exceptional poems. Poems are selected on their merit in an anonymous reading process, supporting a more inclusive body of contemporary writing than the publishing industry currently represents.

R.L. Stine says writing from your heart is overrated
cbc.ca – Wednesday January 17, 2024

R.L. Stine has maintained the same routine for decades. Every day, the author of the phenomenally successful Goosebumps and Fear Street series writes at least 2,000 words, which explains how he's been able to pen more than 350 books over the course of his career.
"I used to be twice as fast," Stine tells Q's Tom Power in an interview. "I'm old now. I used to do 4,000 a day."
The 80-year-old master of fright has now released his first non-fiction book, There's Something Strange About My Brain: Writing Horror for Kids, in which he shares everything he knows about crafting a scary story that kids will love.

New Literary Agent Listing: Katie Williams
firstwriter.com – Tuesday January 16, 2024

Represents drama and comedy writers in television, theatre and film.

New Publisher Listing: SRL Publishing Ltd
firstwriter.com – Monday January 15, 2024

We don’t care about your colour; we care about your words.
Writers will never be asked their sexuality, race, or religion – only if the author wishes to disclose, and we will never use this information to generate sales. We advise anyone who is thinking of submitting their work to us, to not put their race in the subject heading. We view all submissions as equal and will not prioritise any submissions from certain minority groups.
We love stories – fiction or non-fiction. We will consider most genres, topics, or formats.
No graphic or eroticised incest/rape; necrophilia; paedophilia; bestiality; erotica, fetishes or porn; or anything that encourages violence, hate, or racism. No poetry, self-help titles, short story collections, anthologies, or faith-based books. No AI-generated submissions in any form. These include works that are written or co-written by AI technology.
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