Online Writing Resources
As a writer, your best resources are your dedicated daily writing practice and your writing group. But these might be helpful too.
Finding Places to Submit and Apply: Magazines, Contests, Journals, Conferences, MFA & PhD
Community of Literary Magazines and Presses: http://www.clmp.org/
The CLMP is a directory that catalogues independent literary publishers. These publishers focus on publishing indie poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction; they are mission-driven, meaning that their main concern is long-term, quality relationships with authors and small but devoted audiences, not ads, dollars, or fame. This CLMP directory helps you find these indie and alt publications, so you can determine what their preferences are before sending your work to them.
Writer’s Market & Writer’s Digest: http://www.writersmarket.com/ & http://www.writersdigest.com/
Offers a lot of free online content, but to obtain the detailed directories of lit magazines and markets that pay writers, you must subscribe or go through hard copies at the library. Writer’s Market is a huge reference work, printed each year in several volumes dedicated to specific genres. It is updated annually and includes listings of magazines looking for new writers as well as submission requirements. Writer’s Digest has helpful articles on writing, revision, pitching, queries, etc. Writers can connect with other writers on forums, visit blogs and sign up for free weekly e-newsletter. There are also weekly writing prompts, contests and competitions, conference listings, and articles. It is geared more toward popular writers. Look for their annual feature, “One Hundred Best Sites for Writers.”
*Poets & Writers: http://www.pw.org/
A well-rounded print and online resource for new writers. Online you’ll find an excellent search engine for lit magazines specifically looking for writers. They also offer a biannual magazine that is very popular; local libraries often keep new and back copies. It is a practical, thoughtful, inspiring, and invaluable resources for those interested in researching grants for writers, summer workshops, writing conferences, and contests. Also includes their ranking of MFA and PhD programs.
*AWP & The Writer’s Chronicle: https://www.awpwriter.org/
Both the AWP website and their monthly magazine are essential resources for those interested in creative writing as a discipline, submitting work to new and outstanding journals, and interviews with writers along with in-depth articles on reading and writing literature. A must for those for those wanting to continue their education after undergraduate studies. AWP’s 2016 conference featured over 2,000 presenters and 550 readings, panels, and craft lectures. The bookfair hosted over 800 presses, journals, and literary organizations from around the world.
New Pages: http://www.newpages.com
NP is a respected website that provides information on literary journals and other places seeking submissions. Their call-for-submissions page is updated regularly. They also have several writer’s guides and information on graduate writing programs.
The Review Review: http://www.thereviewreview.net/
Website founded by Becky Tuch to explore the world of 2000+ current literary magazines, foster a “deeper connection” with these journals, and link writers to editors.
Literistic: https://www.literistic.com/
Every month, Literistic sends you a list of deadlines for the next month. If you sign up for their fee-based list, it’ll be based on your subscriber preferences. You can also sign up for their basic, short-list for free.
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America: http://www.sfwa.org/
SFFWA features contests to enter, publications, writing instruction, and member discussion forums.
Figuring Out Which Publication to Submit to
*Pushcart Prize Literary Magazine Rankings: http://cliffordgarstang.com/?cat=948
Publishers are ranked based solely on the number of Pushcart Prizes and Special Mentions a magazine has received over a rolling 10-year period in each genre. Helps break magazines down into tiers of magazines, so won’t find yourself having to choose between an excellent magazine and a lesser one.
Ranking of the 100 Best Literary Magazines: http://thejohnfox.com/ranking-of-literary-journals/
This list ranks literary magazines by how often their short stories have appeared (or were honorable mentions) in the Best American Short Stories.
Preparing to Submit and Keeping Track of Submissions
Proper Fiction Manuscript Format: http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html
Tried and true format for short stories when you decide to submit to literary magazines. However, please do not use Courier New font. Editors overwhelming prefer serif fonts like Times New Roman (a heavy favorite) or Georgia or Garamond. I also prefer page numbers and name at the bottom as I find it less distracting.
*Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/
Duotrope is a subscription-based service for writers that offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, and nonfiction markets, a calendar of upcoming deadlines, a personal submissions tracker, and useful statistics compiled from the millions of data points we've gathered on the publishers we list. This website aids writers in the submission process: tracking submissions, deadlines, acceptance ratio, favorite markets. Because users disclose stats from their submitting experience, which provides an insider look at how difficult certain markets are, how often they accept, their expected response time.
*Submittable: https://submittable.com
Many lit magazines depend on online submissions, especially using Submittable. Also helps you keep up with submissions, rejections, and acceptances.
How to Find an Agent
Agent Query: http://www.agentquery.com/
Often recognized by Writer’s Digest as one of the best websites for writers, AQ is an online database of hundreds of literary agents. It also offers several helpful guides on the world of publishing, as well as a list of the best places to send your work, both in print and online.
P&W Literary Agent Database: http://www.pw.org/literary_agents
Agents are listed with contact information and submission guidelines and are organized according to what sort of literature they are interested in representing.
Literary Hubs and Other Wonders
Aerogramme Writers' Studio: http://www.aerogrammestudio.com/ News and resources for emerging and established writers:
Assay Journal: http://www.assayjournal.com/ Articles, news, and conversations about creative nonfiction:
*Electric Literature: https://electricliterature.com/ Essays on writing, author interviews, reading suggestions
*Lit Hub: http://lithub.com/ Lively and ever-changing website and updates for literary news, insider tips, insights, and interviews.
The Millions: http://www.themillions.com/ Great books, reviews, lists, and articles
Literary Magazines (that are online accessible)
*The Believer: http://www.believermag.com/ A literature, arts, and culture magazine.
Brevity: http://brevitymag.com/ Brief essay forms, along with craft essays and book reviews.
Blunderbuss: http://www.blunderbussmag.com/
Diagram: http://thediagram.com/
Fugue: http://www.fuguejournal.com/
Guernica: https://www.guernicamag.com/
Gulf Coast: http://gulfcoastmag.org/
Hippocampus: http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/
Hobart: http://www.hobartpulp.com/
The Kenyon Review: http://www.kenyonreview.org/journal/marapr-2016/index/
*Masters Review: Seeking to publish new voices, online and in print. Monthly submission deadlines and essays on writing. https://mastersreview.com/
*McSweeney’s: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/ Online humor, publishing house, The Believer
Nano Fiction: http://nanofiction.org/ Featured story, interviews, reviews, writing prompts:
Narrative Magazine: http://www.narrativemagazine.com/
New Delta Review: http://ndrmag.org/current-issue/
The Normal School: http://thenormalschool.com/
Pleiades Magazine: http://www.pleiadesmag.com/ Featuring poetry, fiction, essays, and reviews.
The Rumpus: http://therumpus.net/ Another great lit magazine with interviews and features.
Wigleaf: http://wigleaf.com/ Publishes very short fiction
To MFA or Not to MFA (and Beyond)
“MFA vs NYC:” Both, Probably: http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/mfa-vs-nyc-both-probably
What Getting An MFA In Fiction Meant To Me: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexanderchee/my-parade
The MFA as Calling Card Round-Up: Several essays on the topic https://brevity.wordpress.com/2016/08/12/the-mfa-as-calling-card-round-up/
Post-MFA: http://post-mfa.tumblr.com/
What should I do after my MFA if I need a job to support myself, but would like to continue writing? Links and resources about opportunities that you might pursue. It includes sections on fellowships, residencies, international opportunities, diversity resources, academic jobs, employment outside of academia, and additional degree programs. There’s also some advice on requesting letters of recommendation.
Keeping Inspired, Motivated, and Writing
National Novel Writing Month: http://nanowrimo.org/
NaNoWriMo is November and is a thriving movement made up of novel writers who push hard to get a full first “down” draft done in November of each year. The site offers instructions, guidance in forming a support team, and tips for completing a novel (and what to do next).
*Pacemaker Planner: https://pacemaker.press/
Who may find Pacemaker helpful? Anyone needing to plan a writing or reading schedule based on word count or any other quantifiable measure including time in hours or minutes.
*750 Words https://750words.com or Morning Pages http://morningpages.net/
Online journaling sites aimed at writing 750 words every day.
Pomodoro Timer: https://tomato-timer.com/
Write in timed bursts with scheduled breaks
Twitter: http://twitter.com
Follow lit magazines and journals. See open submission periods. Follow your favorite writers. Commiserate about how miserable or great writing can be. @theoffingmag / @NarrativeMag / @mcsweeneys / @submittable
Prompt generators:
Write Real People I & II http://caesaretluna.tumblr.com/post/87091540594/write-real-people
http://caesaretluna.tumblr.com/post/87189950869/write-real
Writing Exercises UK: Generate random story ideas, plots, subjects, scenarios, characters, first lines for stories and more. http://writingexercises.co.uk/index.php
NaNoWriMo Word Sprints: http://nanowrimo.org/word_sprints Timed writing challenge with “Dare Me” prompt generator