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 $1350.00 in cash prizes. Get your best work together and consider entering the WOW! quarterly flash fiction contest with guest judge Literary Agent Quressa Robinson with Folio Literary Agency. The Fall Contest is open to all genres of fiction between 250 - 750 words. Only 300 stories are accepted, so enter early to ensure your spot in the contest. Deadline: November 30, 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: January 31, 2025. 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 >>

Donna Essner chats with Senior Literary Agent Paula Munier with Talcott Notch Literary Agency about capturing an agent’s eye from the first page, query letters, publishing trends, nonfiction book proposals, and more. MORE >>

When you write, begin in media res, in the middle of things, so that you “hook” the reader into wanting to read more. A line like “it was a dark and stormy night” is clichéd but also passive. You want to create a more compelling opening. By Cindy Skaggs. MORE >>

When you decide to bring readers into the bedroom, the living room, the study, the backseat of a car, or an open field beneath the stars, you need to be ready to provide them with a gripping scene. By Evette Davis, author of The Others MORE >>

Do you enjoy pushing artistic boundaries? The Ekphrastic Review and The Mackinaw are seeking submissions. WOW! chats with founding editor Lorette C. Luzajic about what the journals are looking for and the art of writing ephrastic stories and prose poetry. Interview by Ashley Harris. MORE >>

Allison Lynn Flemming has had ten stories published with Chicken Soup for the Soul! In this article, Allison shares how she got started writing for Chicken Soup and some tips she’s learned along the way. MORE >>

Five Minutes publishes 100-word micro memoirs that explore five minutes of a life. Ann Kathryn Kelly interviews Editor-in-Chief Susanna Baird about what she’s looking for, fun reading events, and key elements for writing micro memoir. MORE >>

Have you ever considered writing for the digital marketing niche? Jane Fazackarley covers this vast market, ripe with opportunities for writers. She shares how she got started, a pitch she uses to reach out to potential clients, and provides great tips for niching down and free resources to learn more. MORE >>

If you’re a short story writer, you’ll know that a bad ending to a book, film, or TV show is not just disappointing, but potentially ruinous to the story. Savannah Cordova shares some tips on crafting your story ending from her experience as a longtime judge for Reedsy’s weekly short story contest. Her article is packed with great examples and unique endings to try in your own work! 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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

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