by Curtis C. Chen

Okay. You wrote a novel. That was the easy part.

Now you need to write a synopsis.

by Theodora Goss

I keep reading blog posts that basically all make the same point: anyone can find time to write. You’ve probably read them too. The message is, if you want to be a writer, you can find the time. Get up early and write before work. Write on your lunch break. Write on your commute home. Write after everyone else is asleep. If you can write even a hundred words a day, eventually you’ll have a novel.

It’s not a bad message, but it’s aimed toward aspiring writers. And aspiring writers, I would argue, are very different from working writers, who are different, again, from professional writers.

Each week, for the next month, the SFWA Blog will feature FAQ’s related to taxes and writing. Our own “Tax Czarina” will answer some.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA, Inc.) is pleased to announce that C. J. Cherryh has been named the 32nd Damon Knight Grand Master for her contributions to the literature of Science Fiction and Fantasy. The Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award is given by SFWA for “lifetime achievement in science fiction […]

The SFWA Blog is now offering monthly market updates. Here’s the February, 2016 report: Deadlines and Closures to Note: Original/reprint market Altered States II: A Cyberpunk Anthology  ($10/story via PayPal after publication) has changed its deadline; they are now open until filled. The Angry Robot Books and Gollancz open reading periods for unagented submissions have closed. Bundoran Press […]

Odyssey is for writers whose work is approaching publication quality and for published writers who want to improve their work. The six-week program combines an advanced curriculum with extensive writing and in-depth feedback on student manuscripts.

Odyssey’s online classes are unique among writing programs. Sessions are held live through Web conferencing software, so students can have an active learning process, asking questions and participating in discussions.

How do you ask for a blurb without making a nuisance of yourself? You do your research. Many professional authors have “blurb and review” policies in place on their websites, mostly out of self-defense.

Unidentified Funny Objects, my anthology series, was partly born out of frustration. It was 2012, and I had been actively writing and submitting short stories for about three years. Things were going rather well: I’d made some professional sales, joined SFWA, and was rapidly becoming a serious fan of the serial comma. Even so, I had learned just enough about the short fiction side of the publishing industry to be frustrated with it.

by Jaym Gates and Joie Brown

Last week we discussed some of the basics we use to stay organized, but this week we’re delving into some of the grittier details—client information, multiple deadlines, business cards.