Happy New Year from Anne and Ruth!
With our sincere best wishes for a festive holiday and rewarding 2020.
We love our readers and appreciate every one of you.
Thank you for keeping us going for the last 10 years!
Here are some things coming up on the blog in the next few months.
- Agent Laurie McLean will read her “Crystal Ball” and give predictions for publishing in the next year
- Bookbub: It’s not just for pricey ads anymore. Why every writer should be on Bookbub–the home of classy reviews.
- New publishing scams to watch out for in the new year.
- Editor Jodie Renner returns with an info-packed post on editing.
- Writing guru Megan Ward tells us how to use action in a scene, without overwhelming the reader.
- Garry Rogers, a former detective, will write about “Ten Top Traits Detectives and Writers Have in Common”.
- A return visit from The Digital Reader himself, Nat Hoffelder–our most popular guest last year.
- Marlene Cullen from The Write Spot is going to talk about how to write about traumatic events without adding more trauma.
from Ruth (@RuthHarrisBooks) and Anne (@annerallen) December 29, 2019
With a special thank you to the Google Elves, who gave us a 5000-hit day last Monday! (If you missed the post, here’s Anne’s look back at the Self-Publishing Revolution.)
And here’s Ruth’s popular post on How to Ride the Publishing Roller Coaster Without Falling Off.
What about you, scriveners? What other topics would you like to see us address on the blog in the next year?
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Ruth’s NYT bestseller is on sale for $2.99!
“A SPECTACULAR, RICHLY PLOTTED NOVEL. Racing to a shocking climax, this glittering novel is first-class entertainment, a story of love and money, and how both are made, lost, and found again.” ...New York Times
OPPORTUNITY ALERTS
St. Martin’s Minotaur/MWA mystery novel contest. Author must be UNPUBLISHED in any genre. Submit complete, full-length (60K words or more) mystery novel. Prize is a $10,000 advance and publication by Minotaur books. No fee. Deadline is January 3, 2020.
DISQUIET LITERARY PRIZE $15 ENTRY FEE. For writing in any genre, by a writer who has not yet published more than one book. And 3 winners will be published in Granta.com (fiction), NinthLetter.com (nonfiction) or The Common (poetry). Furthermore, a grand prize winner gets a full scholarship, accommodations, and travel stipend to attend the tenth annual DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon (June 21 – July 3, 2020.) Deadline January 3, 2020.
INTO THE VOID POETRY PRIZE ENTRY FEE CA $6 (US$4.50).First prize $500 and publication. Second prize $100 and publication. Third prize $50 and publication. Poems must be a maximum of 60 lines, including line breaks. Poems must be unpublished in all formats, including personal websites and blogs. This contest is open to writers based anywhere in the world. Deadline January 31, 2020.
The Masters Review Winter Story Contest. For new and emerging writers. $20 FEE. 1st Prize is $3000, 2nd prize $300, 3rd prize $200. Plus a read from major literary agents Deadline, January 31, 2020
31 Magazines Accepting Poetry Submissions. Many are paying markets. Vetted by Authors Publish.
7 PUBLISHERS FOR MEMOIRS! You don’t need an agent. From the good folks at Authors Publish
So glad I discovered your blog this past week and looking forward to all of the coming posts. I’ve worked in academic publishing for quite a long time and your comments, especially about publishing, ring true. I launched a blog last year and plan to put much more energy into my own writing and books in the coming years. Nice to have generous, knowledgeable, experienced mentors. Thank you!
Caryn—Thanks for the kind words. Anne and I are so glad you found us—and found us helpful! Happy New Year and welcome to the blog!
Happy New Year to both you and Ruth! Thanks for all you do in the blogosphere. Huge waves and hugs from Canada – Melodie
Melodie—Waves and hugs from both coasts of the US. All the best from Anne and me for 2020!
Happy almost New Year! Thanks for all the great posts this year. I am a relatively new writer and I found my way to this blog when a search turned up your post on writing author bios. I’d love to see more posts for folks like me who are just starting out and trying to become more established.
Jen—Happy New Year. Anne and I are so glad you found us. We will keep you in mind as we go forward. Meanwhile, our archive is filled with articles for writers at all levels from beginner to battle-scarred! A search for topics that interest you will help you find your way around!
Happy New Year 2020 to you and Ruth. The beginning of a new decade.
Looking forward to your posts every Sunday.
Ingmarhek—Anne and I wish you a very happy new year—and new decade! We look forward to seeing you every Sunday.
Thank you for the previews of coming attractions! I look forward to the main events.
Liz—Anne and I look forward to sharing useful, reliable information. We both send our best wishes for a great new year to come!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Anything about marketing books is great. Actually, anything you share is just amazing.
Alex—all the best for the new year and beyond from both of us! We truly appreciate the kind words from a loyal, supporter of writers.
Looks interesting. I will be visiting. All the best to all.
Leanne—we wish you a very happy new year and look forward to seeing you!
Happy New Decade for you as well, Anne and Ruth!
tracikenworth—:-)
Hey Ruth & Anne — thanks for another great year, & brava to the Google Elves for their good taste. To answer your what-would-I-like-to-read-here-next-year question, though I appreciate it all, I’m most interested in craft improvement. Happy new year.
CS—Thanks for the kind words. Your request noted! Enjoy the end of the old year and the start of the new!
I second CS’s topic request. Of special interest are less-discussed aspects of craft, or deeper treatment of oft-discussed elements of craft.
Thanks for a wonderful year of great information Ruth and Anne. I look forward to whatever you have in store for the new year. Happy New Year, peace, love and good health to you both for the new year and forward. 🙂
Dg Kaye—so glad to hear our posts were helpful! We appreciate our readers and strive to be helpful—and entertaining! Wishing you all the best for the roaring 20s!
Tricia—Thanks! We look to you to know what our readers are interested and note your comment, We wish you all the best for the coming year and decade!
It’s always a pleasure to read these posts each Sunday. I look forward to all of them. HAPPY NEW YEAR, Anne and Ruth.
Patricia—Thank you. Let’s all look forward to enjoying the Roaring Twenties together!
I look forward to reading them all. Happy new Year!
missimontana—Thank you for the flattering words. Anne and I look forward to your comments. We always learn so much from our readers!
Anne and Ruth, wishing both of you the very best for 2020 and the New Decade!! Thank you so much for all the wonderful, insightful, humourous posts so far, looking forward to tons more of the same 🙂
Joy—Thank you for the good wishes—and for the flattering words. Anne and I write for our readers and we plan to keep on keeping on. Your comments encourage us every week!
Happy New Year to both Anne and Ruth and thanks so much for continuing to be voices of reason amid the publishing whirlwind!
Carmen—Anne and I send our best wishes for the new year—and the new decade!—back to you. We are happy to hear that our focus on staying calm, sane and reasonable resonates! We’re in a crazy business and try our best not to add to the lunacy. 😉
Sounds like a great line-up. Happy New Year, Ruth and Anne!
Sue—Thanks and back to you with our best wishes for the new year and the new decade!
Happy New Year! Your topics sounds awesome. I’m going to try to stop by and comment more in 2020.
Natalie—Anne and I send New Year’s greetings and best wishes back to you! We looking forward to seeing you in 2020 and we look forward to your comments. We value our readers’ comments and always respond!