LightNews — News, ranked by scholars

74 Calls for Submissions in April 2026 — Paying markets

September 27, 2026 at 12:20 AM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

74 Calls for Submissions in April 2026 — Paying markets by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/74-calls-for... #booksky

54 Writing Contests in May 2026 — No entry fees!

March 28, 2026 at 6:21 PM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

54 Writing Contests in May 2026 — No entry fees! by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/54-writing-c...

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57 Writing Contests in December 2024 - No entry fees

April 26, 2026 at 8:43 PM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

December writing competitions complied by Erica Verrillo. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2024/11/49-w... #Author #Writers #Writing #WritingCommunity #WritingCompetitions #BlueSky #BookSky #WritersNetwork #WritingAndBooks #IndieAuthor #SelfPublished #EricaVerrillo

This December there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes ran...

76 Writing Contests in March 2026 — No entry fees!

December 9, 2024 at 10:42 AM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

76 Writing Contests in March 2026 — No entry fees! by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/76-writing-c...

February 25, 2026 at 1:00 AM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

10 New Agents Seeking Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, Nonfiction, Short Story Collections, LGBT… by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/10-new-agent...

80 Calls for Submissions in December 2024 - Paying markets

August 18, 2026 at 6:29 PM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

Erica Verrillo’s post on paying markets for writers, calls for submission in December. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2024/11/80-c... #Author #Writers #Writing #WritingCommunity #EricaVerrillo #BlueSky #BookSky #WritersNetwork #WritingAndBooks #IndieAuthor #SelfPublished #CallsForSubmission

This December there are more than six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As alwa...

77 Free Writing Contests in March 2025 - No entry fees

November 26, 2024 at 4:10 PM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

Erica Verrillo has compiled 77 free writing contests for March. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2025/02/77-f... #Author #Writers #WritingCommunity #WritingCompetitions #Writing #BluueSky #BookSky #WriteSky #WritersNetwork #WritingAndBooks #IndieAuthor #SelfPublished #EricaVerrillo

This March there are more than six dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range f...

61 Calls for Submissions in August 2026 — Paying markets

February 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

61 Calls for Submissions in August 2026 — Paying markets by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/61-calls-for...

52 Writing Contests in November 2025 - No entry fees

July 27, 2026 at 11:06 PM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

Free writing competitions in November, list complied by Erica Verrillo. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2025/10/52-w... #Author #Writers #Writing #WritingCommunity #BlueSky #BookSky #WritersNetwork #WritingAndBooks #IndieAuthor #SelfPublished #WritingCompetitions #EricaVerrillo

This November there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes ran...

88 Writing Contests in February 2026 - No entry fees

October 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

Erica Verrillo’s list of 88 writing contests - no entry fee. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2026/01/87-w... #Author #Writer #Writing #WritingCommunity #BlueSky #BookSky #IndieAuthor #WritersNetwork #WritingContests #EricaVerrillo

This February there are more than seven dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes ra...

42 Writing Contests in August 2025 - No entry fees

January 29, 2026 at 3:30 PM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

Free writing contests in August compiled by Erica Verrillo. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2025/07/36-w... #WritingContests #Writing #Author #Writer #WritingCommunity #BlueSky #BookSky #EricaVerrillo #WritersNetwork #WritingAndBooks #IndieAuthor #SelfPublished

This August there are more than three dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes rang...

61 Writing Contests in June 2025 - No entry fees

August 2, 2025 at 10:09 AM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

Erica Verrillo’s list of June writing competitions ~ no fees. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2025/05/56-w... #Author #Writer #Writing #WritingCommunity #BlueSky #BookSky #WritingCompetitions #WritersNetwork #WritingAndBooks #IndieAuthor #SelfPublished #EricaVerrillo

This June there are more than five dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range f...

6 New Literary Agents Actively Seeking YA and Adult Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Nonfiction, Cookbooks…

June 3, 2025 at 8:09 AM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

Erica Verrillo has joined us on BlueSky. She is a prolific blogger and posts valuable resources and opportunities for authors. I have posted many of those on my feed. A very warm welcome. #EricaVerrillo #Author #Writers #Writing #BlueSky #BookSky #WritingCommunity #WritersNetwork #WritingAndBooks

November 13, 2024 at 9:57 PM

Rachel D. Adams - writer

@rachdwriter.bsky.social

6 New Literary Agents Actively Seeking YA and Adult Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Nonfiction, Cookbooks… by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/6-new-litera...

Here are six new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and…

What's Your Book About? How to Make a Pitch

April 13, 2026 at 5:44 PM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

The wrong and rights of the book pitch, lessons Erica Verrillo learned by experience. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2013/02/pitc... #EricaVerrillo #BookPitch #Author #Writer #WritingCommunity #BlueSky #BookSky #IndieAuthor #WritingAndBooks #BookAgents #Writers #WritersNetwork

"I think I've got a bite ..." When my first novel was complete, I sent it to an academic press. (You could do that then.) The editor...

The Skinny on Virtual Book Tours

August 30, 2026 at 8:19 AM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

The nuts and bolts of a book tour from Erica Verrillo. Brilliant links to genre bloggers. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-... #Authors #Writers #Writing #WritingCommunity #BookTour #BlueSky #BookSky #BookBloggers #WritersNetwork #WritingAndBooks #IndieAuthor #SelfPublished #EricaVerrillo

Updated 12/7/24 What is a virtual book tour? A virtual book tour (aka blog tour) consists of lining up a series of bloggers to re...

84 Calls for Submissions in July 2026 — Paying markets

December 27, 2024 at 9:25 AM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

84 Calls for Submissions in July 2026 — Paying markets by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/84-calls-for...

44 Writing Contests in September 2026 — No entry fees!

June 28, 2026 at 6:15 PM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

44 Writing Contests in September 2026 — No entry fees! by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/44-writing-c...

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95 Calls for Submissions in March 2026 — Paying markets

August 26, 2026 at 8:06 PM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

95 Calls for Submissions in March 2026 — Paying markets by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/95-calls-for...

Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity Newsletter: February 2026

February 25, 2026 at 7:35 PM

Stuart Aken

@stuartaken.bsky.social

Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity Newsletter: February 2026 by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/publishing-a...

Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity Newsletter: February 2026 325 Paying Markets for Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction This is your year to get published! Conveniently, I just happen to have a …

79 Calls for Submissions in September 2026 — Paying markets

January 31, 2026 at 1:26 PM

Anne R. Allen

@annerallen.bsky.social

79 Calls for Submissions in September 2026 — Paying markets by @EricaVerrillo curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/79-calls-for...

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87 Calls for Submissions in June 2025 - Paying markets

August 28, 2026 at 10:18 PM

Denice Penrose

@denicepenrose.bsky.social

One of my Favourite Writing sites is this one from @EricaVerrillo
publishedtodeath.blogspot.com
It's my go-to site for #publishing opportunities and writing info.
#AmWriting #WritingLife

This June there are more than seven dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always...

Hugh Howey: Why the Decision to Not Self-Publish is "Fatal"

June 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM

Iain Aire

@iainaire.bsky.social

Self publishing? Is it a no brainer? Erica Verrillo’s post with caveats on some of the data. publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2014/02/hugh... #Author #Writer #EricaVerrillo #SelfPublishing #BlueSky #BookSky #WritersNetwork #WritingCommunity #WritingAndBooks #IndieAuthor #SelfPublished

Should you self-publish? The answer, according to Hugh Howey, is a resounding YES!! In fact, he says you'd have to be crazy not to. In...