Best Writing Contests to Enter in 2026 If you’re looking to sharpen your craft, gain recognition, and potentially land publication opportunities, writing contests remain one of the most powerful ways to stand out. Below is a curated list of some of the most exciting contests to enter in 2026. River Styx Flash Fiction & Poetry Contest  – Respected for pairing new talent with distinguished judges, awarding powerful short-form writing. YoungArts Writing Competition  – Celebrates

Editing Like a Pro Editing is one of those stages in writing that can feel both exciting and overwhelming. You’ve got a complete draft in front of you—your story, article, or book finally exists in full sentences rather than notes, fragments, and daydreams. That’s an accomplishment worth celebrating. But now comes the part that separates good writing from great writing: revision.

Hybrid Publishing Explained Hybrid publishing has become one of the most talked-about options in the book world. Somewhere between traditional publishing and self-publishing, hybrid presses promise authors the “best of both worlds.” But what does that really mean? And more importantly—does it mean it’s the right choice for you?

The Hidden Clauses in Publishing Contracts Every Author Should Know Publishing your book is thrilling—an accomplishment many dream of but few achieve. Yet, before your words reach readers, one critical step can shape your career as much as your manuscript itself: the publishing contract. These contracts are designed to protect both author and publisher, but they’re rarely written in plain, reader-friendly language. Instead, they’re packed with legal terminology and clauses th

Building an Author Website That Works for You In today’s publishing world, having an author website isn’t optional—it’s essential....

Creating a Compelling Book Blurb in Under 200 Words If you’ve ever stood in a bookstore aisle or scrolled through endless book listings...

Dealing with Self-Doubt as a Writer Every writer, no matter how seasoned or successful, wrestles with self-doubt at some point. That...

Dialogue That Flows When readers open a book, they don’t just want to see characters moving through a plot. They want to hear them—feel...

How to Choose the Right Editor for Your Book You’ve written your book. You’ve poured your heart, your imagination, and countless hours...

Find Your Writing Community Online Writing may often feel like a solitary pursuit, but no writer truly thrives in isolation. Behind every...

How to Format Your Manuscript for Submission or Self-Publishing If you’ve poured your heart into writing a book, the last thing you want...

How to Get Your First Book Reviews For most authors, nothing feels more nerve-wracking than asking for reviews. You’ve poured your heart...

How to Use Reader Surveys to Improve Your Writing Writers often think of their craft as a solitary pursuit: long hours at the keyboard,...

An author bio may seem like a small part of your writing career, but in reality, it carries an outsized weight. It’s often the first...

How to Write Opening Lines That Hook Readers Writers carry a lot of responsibility in the first few sentences of a story. Those opening...

Writers hear this piece of advice so often it almost becomes background noise: show, don’t tell.  But what does it actually mean? Why...

The Basics of Building an Author Brand When you hear the word “brand,” you might think of logos, color palettes, or flashy marketing...

When writers talk about story, the focus usually lands on characters and plot. Who are the people driving the story, and what happens to...

Traditional vs Indie Publishing For writers, finishing a manuscript is only the beginning. Once the final chapter is written and...

What Happens After You Sign a Book Deal? You’ve done it—you’ve signed a book deal. After months, maybe years, of writing, revising,...