Content of this newsletter:
- PUBLISHING NEWS & TIPS
- WRITERS RESIDENCIES, FELLOWSHIPS, & GRANTS
- PAID CONTENT
- WRITING CONTESTS
Happy New Year / Feliz Ano Nuevo / Bonne Année
Dear readers, writers, and publishers: All the very best for the next 365 days and beyond! I hope you enjoyed the holidays, and you are eager to tackle the upcoming writing and publishing season with new books.
A MUST-READ: Why is writing a book so darn time-consuming?
https://gailcarriger.com/2014/07/14/why-is-writing-a-book-so-darn-time-consuming-occasional-faq/
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Writing/Publishing Tips for 2026
- Before writing your next book, map out your plan for how and to whom you want to sell it. For example: Set Goals for Writing and Publishing- this includes setting goals around getting your book done and launching it.
- Find and Build Your Audience - really give thought to who your reading audience is, what’s important to them, and how you will connect with them. Join groups on social media where your reading audience “hangs out.”
- Develop a Book Marketing Plan and Timeline- marketing and selling books is easier and more profitable when you have a plan and timeline.
- Build relationships with Your Local Bookstores and Libraries – if getting into libraries and bookstores is part of your marketing plan. Also, explore what type of author events they host.
And if this is not enough, find 52 resolutions, one for each week, here
https://www.writerscookbook.com/new-years-resolutions-for-writers/
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- WRITERS RESIDENCIES, FELLOWSHIPS, & GRANTS
Yaddo Residencies
Generally, those who qualify for Yaddo residencies are either working at the professional level in their fields or are emerging artists whose work shows great professional promise. An abiding principle at Yaddo is that applications for residency are judged solely on the quality of the work.
The January 6 deadline is for residencies starting May of the same year, through March of the following year. Applicants receive results by email in mid-March. The August 1 deadline is for residencies starting in November of the same year through June of the following year.
Residencies vary in length, from two weeks to two months. Residencies include room, board, a studio, and more, granting you the opportunity to work without interruption in a supportive environment.
https://yaddo.org/apply/
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Workshop Grants 2026
The workshop -- which will take place at Northwestern University’s Evanston, Ill., campus July 7 to 15, 2026 -- will focus on writing fiction. GRRM Fellows will have the opportunity to learn from award-winning novelists and writing instructors. This program is designed specifically for mid-career journalists. Applicants should have at least five years of experience in the field, either full-time or freelance. Participants will receive funds for transportation from their home base to Chicago, lodging in a single room at a group hotel, and all meals during the program.
Deadline January 12
https://forms.medill.northwestern.edu/view.php
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Banff Crime Writing Residency
Banff Centre's Artist Fund provides financial support to artists in many of our programs, including full scholarships for Canadian Indigenous participants. Please fill out the Financial Aid question when you apply for your program to be eligible. Crime Writing is a self-directed residency that provides writers with the time and space to focus on their work away from the constraints of everyday life. During this two-week residency, crime writers can take advantage of one-on-one mentorship opportunities with faculty, group discussions, and a community of artistic peers.
Deadline February 18
https://www.banffcentre.ca/funding-opportunities-artists
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Banff Sports Writing Residency
This two-week residency encourages the exploration of new ideas in sports writing. Designed to challenge and stimulate, the program aims to inspire creative pieces of sports-focused non-fiction and to assist the writers in their completion. A preeminent space for long-form journalism, this residency emphasizes the strengths of thorough and articulate reporting, distinctive storytelling, and literary devices. Please fill out the Financial Aid question when you apply for your program to be eligible. Deadline April 08
https://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/literary-arts/sports-writing-2026
American Gardener
Our readers are mainly experienced amateur gardeners, and about 20 percent are horticultural professionals. Feature articles run 1,500 to 2,500 words, depending on subject and assignment. Column stories run 900-1,000 words. Payment for feature articles ranges from $300 to $700 on publication, depending on the article’s length and complexity, and the author’s background and publishing experience. Payment for column stories ranges from $150 to $200.
https://ahsgardening.org/writers-guidelines/
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Herizons Magazine
It has been Canada’s foremost feminist magazine since 1992. Herizons publishes social commentary on art, culture, and legal/political/community affairs related to gender, race, and sexuality. $600 flat fee for 1500-2000 words | critical essays, personal essays, responses, reviews, interviews, art writing, experimental writing, and more. $250 flat fee for 600 words | personal/critical essay related to current events. $175 flat fee for 500 words, critical or personal responses to recent films, exhibitions, performances, or other moving image and art happenings. $125 flat fee for 350 words | brief, opinionated responses.
https://herizons.ca/submissions
Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize
Opens January 2, 2026. Awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme TBD. The winner and runners-up will receive financial support in the following amounts: First place: £3,000, Second place: £1,000, Third place: £1,000. A maximum of 1,250 words per entry. All genres of writing are permitted, including fiction, non-fiction, and non-academic essays. Open to all nationalities. £10 Entry Fee.
https://alpinefellowship.com/
VIII International Microfiction Contest
Participation is open to all writers from any country in the world who are over 18 years of age. Entries, on a free subject matter, must be written in any of the following languages: Spanish, English, Arabic, or Hebrew. A maximum of three texts per author will be accepted, regardless of the languages chosen. A grand prize of € 20,000 will be awarded to the best story, in any of the contest languages—additionally, up to three runner-up prizes of € 2,000. Stories may not exceed 100 words (counted in Spanish; differences in other languages’ syntax will not alter this limit). No Entry Fee. Deadline Jan 31, 2026
https://www.fundacioncesaregidoserrano.com/en/
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Chicken Soup: Dogs
You will receive a check for $250 and 10 free copies of your book. We are looking for first-person true stories of up to 1200 words. We want your funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your mind-boggling stories about your dog. Deadline March 1, 2026
http://www.chickensoup.com
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New year, new start. May all your dreams come true! Wishing you the best year yet! You deserve it! Cheers to health, happiness, and prosperity in 2026!
Even with the best planning, implementing your New Year's resolutions will not be a sure-fire success. There will probably be dry spells in the new year, too. Your everyday life will then drain your energy, and you will find it difficult to concentrate on your goals. However, with the right preparation, you can ensure that you overcome even these phases.
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