In the “Coaching Corner” section of Page Fright, my aim is to help you get your work out there. No “novels sitting in a drawer ” for any of my subscribers, dammit! :)
In the first and second columns, I provided tips for targeting publications and editors of magazines, newspapers, and online pubs.
Here, I’m passing along the contents of an email I received from Writer’s Digest. As you’ll see, it describes an opportunity for new and emerging writers to submit their work (for a fee) to have it shared with certain literary agents and publishers.
With the publishing industry being what it is today, it’s important to find alternative ways of getting your work seen—this could be one potentially useful route. Regular deadline is August 20, and late deadline is September 5. Good luck!
A Special Message from our Trusted Partner
Authors,
Final deadline for the 2023 Unpublished season is coming up ... REGISTER NOW.
Awarding $20,000 to new and emerging authors, Book Pipeline is seeking both fiction and nonfiction to circulate directly to some of the top lit agents and publishers.
In the last couple years, multiple authors have signed with lit agents and been published. Kill For Love by Laura Picklesimer releases this September from Unnamed Press, Aaron Brooks signed with Amy Collins at Talcott Notch, and numerous others moved their writing careers forward as a direct result of Pipeline circulation and introductions. With a few more big announcements to come!
Industry receiving first look at the top selections include Katherine Tegen Books, CAA, Verve Publishing, and more.
Categories of entry:
Literary
Mystery/Thriller
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Young Adult
Middle Grade
Picture Books
Romance/Women's Fiction (NEW this season!)
Nonfiction
Winners and Runners-Up receive:
$20,000 to winners ($2,500 for each category winner)
Immediate circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and other execs
Consideration from producers seeking projects for film and TV adaptation
Additional long-term review of other books for potential circulation
REGISTER NOW
For published authors ...
For notes on your query or manuscript ...
And to pre-order Book Pipeline winner Kill for Love ...
Active Interest Media
2143 Grand Ave Des Moines, Iowa, 50312 USA
Are there any alternative routes you’ve sought for publication? What was the experience like for you? Please let us know here!
Meta, this program feels a little off, to me, with its pay-to-play approach to seeking an agent. Granted, it’s a contest. But the website doesn’t seem to list any of the affiliated industry professionals, to give people a sense of what the value is, so I would be leery of its claims. Yes, it comes through WD, but the announcement/ad raises a lot of questions--at least for me.
Thank you, Meta! I've taken a long break from being plugged in to anything, including Substack, and it was a pleasure to dive back in with this. I'll check them out. I'm in the throws of searching for an agent. I understand their difficulties--searching for a story/writer that they not only enjoy, but who can have commercial financial benefit. On my side, it's difficult to keep the confidence bright and fresh during the search!