SUCCESSFUL PUBLISHING - NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2026
Content of this newsletter:
- PUBLISHING TIPS
- WRITERS' RESIDENCIES, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS
- PAID CONTENT
- PUBLISHING NEWS & TIPS
- WRITING CONTESTS
Dear fellow writers and publishers:
Just like me, you might be exhausted by the election, the move to standard time, or the planning of the upcoming holidays and the marketing plan outcomes for your books. Don’t let it overwhelm you!
Give yourself some well-earned hours (or days) of relaxing time before the holiday countdown. Discover the many possibilities for how writing and publishing can work in other fields than just books.
There are many benefits for authors to participate in writing contests, fellowships, and awards:
- The award website usually posts a list of participating books and names of authors
- It gives you a great opportunity to talk on social media & your blog or website about your participation
- Some contests even seek votes publicly over the internet, in addition to the jury
- Literary awards have very attractive prizes, such as travel to Europe and a scholarship
If you win or are short-listed in an award, you certainly can use this fact to advertise for and print it on your book's cover, or even place a badge on it and on any promotional material, including your website or blog, casting a positive light on your book.
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- PUBLISHING NEWS & TIPS
Simon & Schuster Just Offered Indie Authors 50% Royalties. Here’s the Math Nobody’s Running.
https://medium.com/@thevinayakramesh/simon-schuster-just-offered-indie-authors-50-royalties-heres-the-math-nobody-s-running-f29ff683830b
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Nonfiction Is Struggling
Publishers Are Making It Worse
Data from a NielsenIQ report found the UK’s nonfiction print sales had dipped by 6 percent. “Speaking to publishing insiders and readers,” wrote Emma Loffhagen, “one word that cropped up repeatedly was escapism.” Two weeks later, the New York Times confirmed that “Dragons, Sex, and the Bible” were the top categories that drove US book sales in 2025. The world is on fire; why not sit back and watch some mythical creatures?
https://thewalrus.ca/nonfiction-is-struggling-publishers-are-making-it-worse/
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- WRITERS RESIDENCIES, GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS
Essere Residencies
Partial fellowships in the amount of €1000 off residency fees. The residency offers a supportive space to develop professional creative skills as well as receive mentorship and support for inner wellbeing. Each person’s unique creative process is fostered within the context of a vibrant international community, in the tranquility and historic richness of rural Tuscany, Italy.
$30 Application Fee. Deadline November 15
https://essereresidency.org/apply/
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Half and One Editorial Fellowship
Fellowship is a three-month, fully remote program designed to support bold, original voices in fiction, poetry, and narrative non-fiction. Open to emerging and established writers alike worldwide, the programme invites applicants to submit a single piece of writing that reflects both craft and creative ambition, with the selected fellow receiving a $3,000 award. Over the course of the Fellowship, the selected writer will work closely with the Half and One editorial team to develop and publish two original pieces and teach one class. $35 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 17
https://halfandone.com/half-and-one-editorial-fellowship/
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Ottawa Creation and Production Fund for Artists
This fund supports local artists for the creation and production of new work or the completion of works in progress. Funding is awarded to individual emerging, mid-career, and established artists in the literary, visual, media, interdisciplinary and performing arts. The funding is intended to cover project expenses and/or living expenses while creating or producing new works. The request amount for a production can be up to a maximum of $15,000. Must be a current resident of the city of Ottawa and live in Ottawa, or be Anishinabe Algonquin and live within a 150 km radius of Ottawa. Deadline December 2
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NRDC Climate Storytelling Fellowship
The Fellowship will grant $20,000 each to three writers to support revision of a feature screenplay or pilot that engages with climate change in a compelling way through events, actions, character, emotions, plot, and/or setting. A maximum of 500 qualified scripts will be accepted for consideration for the 2027 Fellowship. All scripts accepted for consideration will receive one free month of hosting and one free evaluation. Deadline December 4
https://blcklst.com/programs/2027-nrdc-climate-storytelling-fellowship
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- PAID CONTENT
Self
Self is a health and wellness brand looking for stories that explore personal, community, or public health, ideally with a service element. Core verticals and areas of focus include: health (news, trends, health conditions, mental well-being, sexual and reproductive health, and sleep); fitness (workout trends, tips and explainers, gear, and women’s sports); food (nutrition trends, and tips); love including platonic, familial, and romantic); and life (motherhood, money, career, and culture). Rates start at $250 for short and quick news stories. Reported service stories start at $500; features start at $750.
https://www.self.com/story/how-to-pitch-a-story-to-self
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The Cut
It publishes stories that create a dynamic conversation with women about the issues that matter to them most — politics, feminism, work, money, relationships, mental health, fashion, and issues relating to equality — and we’re always looking for ideas that add to that conversation. Looking for smart, generous, funny writing that engages with The Cut’s readers and finds a natural home on our website under one of our four verticals: POWER, SELF, STYLE, and CULTURE. Essays Rate: $500 minimum for 1,000–1,500 words. Features Rate: $600 minimum for about 1,500–2,000 words. The standard kill fee for an accepted pitch is 25 percent.
https://www.thecut.com/article/how-to-pitch-the-cut.html
- WRITING CONTESTS
F(R)iction Literary Contests
Categories are short story, flash fiction, and poetry. Short stories: 1,001 – 7,500 words. 1st prize receives $1,000 and consideration for publication in F(r)iction. Poetry: up the three pages per poem. Poetry 1st prize receives $300 and consideration for publication. Flash fiction: up to 1,000 words per piece. 1st prize receives $300 and consideration for publication.
Entry fee: $15. Deadline November 13
https://frictioncontests.submittable.com/submit
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Perugia Press Prize
Book publication and a $2,000 prize. Twenty author copies and an ongoing discount of 50% off of the cover price for additional copies. Time to work with the editor to create a book the poet loves, with input into book editing, design & promotion. Submissions are open to women poets, including gender-expansive identities. Poets must have no more than one previously published full-length book. Manuscripts are generally between 45-85 pages. Deadline November 15
https://perugiapress.org/contest/
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The Wishing Jewel Prize
Contest awards $1,000 and publication. The Wishing Jewel Prize honors an innovative manuscript that challenges expectations of genre, form, or mode while engaging the rich possibilities of lyrical expression. All finalists are considered for publication. Send an unpublished manuscript (48 pages minimum) with identifying information removed.
Entry Fee. Deadline November 30
https://greenlindenpress.submittable.com/submit
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Agarts Bio-Santuary Contest
First prize: $1,000. Runner-up: $500. We are seeking writing—poetry or non-fiction, 500-word maximum. Along with your writing, submit 1-3 excellent photos that document the specific bio-sanctuary that you’ve enhanced or created. Winners will be published in The Blazing Star Journal and Emerging Voices Substack page
$10 Entry Fee. Deadline December 1
https://www.agarts.org/agarts-announces-the-2026-bio-sanctuary-contest
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Foglifter Press
A poetry chapbook prize for local emerging queer and trans Black writers, indigenous writers, and writers of color. Each year, one chapbook author is awarded publication, a $3,000 prize, and $1,000 to support their book tour/promotion. The winner will work with Foglifter’s team to shape and bring forth the first chapbook of their dreams—directly engaging with the editorial, design, production, and promotion processes—and cultivating skills, experience, and relationships that last long after publication. Limit 25 pages. NO Entry Fee. Deadline December 1
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Last but not least, here is a funny quote by Steve Martin:
“Writer's block is a fancy term made up by whiners so they can have an excuse to drink alcohol.”
Have a great day, a productive month, and a fantastic Thanksgiving.
