Exchange topic ideas in between submissions. I currently have five pieces on submission and five in revision, which helps keep me focused on my goal of publication. In between publishing cycles, friends in my two writing groups exchange a list of ideas for first-person confessional essays. Writing and submitting these pieces is a great way to beat the odds and break into a national publication. In a recent WOW interview, New York Times bestselling author of The Byline Bible and teacher Susan Shapiro offered this tip: “My rule for all first-person writing is you have to question, challenge, out, and trash yourself more than anyone else.” Your essay could be about a nasty breakup or how you lost your job or became a shopaholic. Just remember to end as a victor, not a victim, and don’t forget to share your wisdom. My writing partners and I post our lists on Dropbox Paper or Google Docs and then vote on the most viable ideas and discuss potential markets. I found this exercise does two things: 1) it keeps my mind actively mining my life for essay ideas and thinking about my experiences in terms of conflict and wisdom, and 2) having feedback on which headlines are most interesting saves me time before writing a piece. It’s also not a big ask from writing partners because it’s quick and fun to vote on ideas. If you’re still not sure which ideas are the most feasible, try writing a pitch summary for each one and the best is certain to rise to the top. As writer Joan Didion said, “I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking.”

Start or join a discussion group. WOW subscriber Myna Chang loves to write and read flash fiction, but realized that most book clubs focus on full-length novels. She decided to start her own group, Electric Sheep, to read short speculative pieces. On The Muffin, she shared tips on starting your own group. Reading as a writer is the best way to study craft, and sharing a story with other writers is one of my favorite things to do. I recently shared “The Crane Wife,” a fantastic essay by CJ Hauser, with one of my writing partners and felt rewarded when she told me she observed a technique she wanted to try in one of her essays. I’m also a member of an accountability group, and we post monthly goals, discuss the business side of writing, publishing, and marketing. All of us are at different stages of our work—some are currently querying book-length projects to agents, while others are vigorously revising short stories—but as a group we’re there to help each other every step of the way.

Believe in your work. Above all else, writing is a spiritual journey, and we must stay the course and trust our innate wisdom. For some writers, the path is straightforward, but for others it often meanders like a winding river. Try to have patience and be receptive to changes in the current. After a little time and reflection, we often realize that our piece isn’t really about one thing but another. If we go with the flow, surprising things can happen. Maybe you received a soul-crushing rejection, but then realized it was a gift because the editor shared why the piece wasn’t working. You revise and submit it, and receive an acceptance from your dream publication. Let go of your fears, doubts, expectations, and just keep writing. In time, you will meet your goals and more.

We have a great issue for you! Ann Kathryn Kelly interviews Welter’s Editor-in-Chief Betsy Boyd and Poetry Editor Micaela Walley. Ann tried poetry writing for the first time last year, and was surprised when several of her poems were accepted for publication. That included her prose poem, "Bands of Honey," which was published in Welter and chosen out of 1,000 poem submissions! Ann's story reinforces the importance of staying flexible and maintaining writing momentum. She says, "It was an empowering reminder that we all can surprise ourselves when we stretch outside our comfort zones." Celebrate National Poetry Month by getting acquainted with this fantastic journal!

Did you know that most successful freelancers resell each piece they write, in some form or another, about five times? In our feature article below, WOW’s blog editor, Marcia Peterson, shares her best tips for re-purposing your work, along with advice from freelancers Kelly James-Enger, Shirley Jump, and Moira Allen. This article goes hand-in-hand with my suggestion for targeting different markets, but Marcia tailors her tips towards freelancers who want to earn money by turning one idea into multiple sales.

Don't forget, WOW's Q3 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest closes at the end of this month! Submit your best creative nonfiction, memoir, lyric essay, hybrid, and more for a chance to win $1,175 in cash prizes and publication. 200 - 1,000 words. Only 300 essays accepted. Enter by April 30.

Small steps create momentum. Momentum leads to forward motion and continuity. Continuity builds hope, and as our friends in Ukraine demonstrate every day, hope will keep you going no matter what obstacles you face. Trust in your work and follow its unique path. Celebrate small successes, and you’ll gain confidence, which will lead to even bigger writing achievements down the road.

Angela Mackintosh is an editor at WOW! Women on Writing and a graphic designer at Mackintosh Multimedia. Her creative nonfiction has been published in various literary journals. She's currently working on pitches for essays she realized were better suited for mass media.

Would you like to see your product, book, contest, or service in this section and reach over 51,000 subscribers? Email Angela for current specials.

CreateWriteNow's Courses for Writers are for new and experienced journalers who want to challenge themselves with a guided journaling journey.

Dive into challenges like 53 Weekly Writing Retreats, 12 day Guide to Morning Pages, 14 Days of Journal Magic for Writers, Build a Lasting Journaling Practice in 14 Days, and Overcoming Page Fright in 7 Days.

Led by self-transformation guide, Mari L.McCarthy, these journaling journeys are available for instant download, so you can get started today! Embark on a path of healing and self-discovery.

Are you working on a book or novel? Submit your first chapter to the Booksie First Chapter Contest!

You don't need to have finished the book. You don't even need more than the first chapter. Booksie's site editors are looking for an original, well-written start that will grab their attention—one that makes them want to read what comes next.

You can submit your entire manuscript, but only the first chapter will be judged. They are open to any genre, fiction and nonfiction, and the maximum length is 7,500 words.

First place receives $500 cash, gold winner badge, a week of Promote for any published content, and a review of the winning chapter. Runners up receive $100.

Memoir is a genre of the heart. Memoir is powerful. Memoir is deep. Memoir changes lives, even saves lives.

Mary Karr has written that in memoir, the heart is the head. If you’re looking for how to access the heart in your memoir, look no further than this next 6-week intensive hosted by Brooke Warner and Linda Joy Myers, co-founders of Write Your Memoir in Six Months, and co-leaders of the popular memoir classes through Magic of Memoir.

Teachers: Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy; Ashley C. Ford, author of Somebody's Daughter; Joshua Mohr, author of Model Citizen; Anna Qu, author of Made in China; Linda Joy Myers, author of Don't Call Me Mother; and Brooke Warner, author of Write On, Sisters!

LitNuts is a free newsletter created to share the "Best of he Indies" with book lovers. That means indie authors and publishers won't be competing with the Big 5 corporate publishers or their imprints.

Equally important, LitNuts built their following from scratch to ensure they have subscribers who are genuinely interested in and supportive of indie publishing.

60% off the regular price, now through May 31

Book Giveaway: The Right Address by Patricia Gable

The Right Address is Dynamic and Heart-Warming Middle-Grade Read from WOW! Subscriber Patricia Gable

Annie hears that her foster parents are going to send her little brother, Willie, to another foster home. She can't let that happen! She devises a plan for the two of them to run away in the middle of a wintry night. That's when the adventure begins!

Annie is the protective sister and Willie is bold and comical. They meet new friends and find places to sleep and eat. But how long can they last in the winter weather? And who is the strange man watching them?

When they are given a card with only an address written on it, will this be the break they need or will it spell disaster?

The Right Address (Booklocker, November 2021) is available for purchase in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org.

Giveaway ends April 3rd.

The Black Memoirs Matter Anthology will highlight crucial creative nonfiction by writers of African descent. Submissions are open to all writers of the African Diaspora, regardless of country of origin or residence.

Our goal is to chronicle the global Black Experience through memoir. At the same time, we are looking for universal truths that transcend race, like mental health, self-love, parenting, etc.

Submissions should be written in first person and range anywhere from 500 to 4,000 words.

Tell us your story!

We pay a $50 honorarium upon acceptance.

5 weeks: Apr 8 - May 12

Famed epicure James Beard once wrote, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” In this five-week course, we will explore the wide and exciting range of food-themed genres. Via the instructional text, Will Write for Food 4th edition, by Dianne Jacob, students will find inspiration for their own weekly writing assignments. In addition, students will read food writing from some of the top journalists and food bloggers in the industry in Best American Food Writing 2021. Each week, students will submit a prose assignment based on an exercise from our class text for constructive and supportive instructor feedback. Led by Melanie Faith!

4 weeks: Apr 11 - May 8

Where do we get ideas for our writing? As nonfiction writers, we are inspired to write because of our experiences. But sometimes we don’t know how to put our experiences into words or how to write about them. This is where curiosity and research come to the rescue. This class will look at the different ways in which being curious about an experience, an event, an object, an anything that catches your attention can fuel your writing and bring a deeper level of meaning to what you write. By combining (fun!) research and personal experience, your writing can take on new meanings. Led by Chelsey Clammer!