Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 54

Still Not Shutting Up

Like many writers, I am active on Facebook writing groups, where I post links to my blog posts about writing resources. Yesterday, Facebook suddenly deleted every one of the links to my blog. I was thrown in Facebook jail. 

I believed it was some kind of glitch, a change in their algorithms. Much to my surprise, it turns out my confinement was not due to some automated Facebook glitch, but to someone reporting my blog as "harmful." 

I have to say I am incredulous. My blog is completely innocuous. It's about publishing, and how to get published. My posts are not political, not controversial. And I am certainly not famous. Why would anyone report me? But in the blog's description at the top of the page, I have included a statement that in the interests of protecting the First Amendment - which, as a writer, I take very seriously - I did not vote for Trump, who is notoriously anti-free press. 


Of course, on my personal Facebook page, I am intensely political. I'm not a big fan of Nazis or the KKK, or of anyone they support. Any movement towards an autocracy or, in this case, a kleptocracy, is something I vigorously oppose. I have always been critical of both political parties, and of our presidents. I reserve my fandom for the Constitution.

A brief stint in Facebook jail is not a big thing. It's just a temporary hitch. But the fact that someone would go out of their way to target my blog - something that small, that innocent, that inconsequential - is an indication of the mentality driving this climate of authoritarianism.

I say this as a writer and as a responsible citizen: Harassment of individuals simply because they are critical of the government, no matter who is currently in power, should not be tolerated. It is a slippery slope, and one that only leads to the bottom. 

I am not going to remove that single sentence - that short declaration of support for the First Amendment - from my blog description. In spite of more than a few comments ranging from insults ("You are a stupid bitch") to outright threats, that statement will stay right where it is. And no amount of harassment will induce me to remove it. To do so would be a surrender, if even a very small one, to the very forces that are diminishing the principles that lie at the heart of a representative democracy.

2018 New Year's Resolution for Writers: Finish

Every year I write a New Year's Resolution on this blog. Last year I resolved to write what I feared. Writers tend to find a niche for themselves, be it a genre, like science fiction, or a form, like poetry. It's not a bad thing to have an area of expertise, but to truly expand, writers need to venture into unknown territory. Fiction writers need to experiment with nonfiction, poets with essays, memoirists with fiction.

Often these experiments produce godawful results, but just making the attempt to force one's mind into a different form of expression can awaken new areas of creativity.

Not being a hypocrite (well, not much), I embarked valiantly on the form of writing I most feared: the truth. Writing in first person about actual events has always made me squirm, and just as I suspected, writing my memoir proved to be about as entertaining as pulling my own teeth. I got nowhere for months. And then, voila! I realized it was the same as writing fiction! There is a story arc, characters to develop, a whole world to explore.

So, now that I have faced my terror, there is only one more resolution in store for me.

Finish.

How many of us have half-written novels, notes for short stories, essays and books in need of revision, ideas languishing on the backs of envelopes in illegible scrawls? I certainly do. These half-completed projects have begun to haunt me, like pets I have forgotten to feed. They follow me around in my mind, whining pitifully.

My New Year's Resolution is to feed my little darlings, wrap them up in comfy prose, tuck them in with some nice plot structure, put them out of their half-finished misery, even when I am not motivated, inspired, or even thrilled. Finishing is a responsibility.

This year I will finish every one of my stories.

(Oh, God, what have I just committed myself to?)

34 Calls for Submissions in January 2018 - Paying Markets

There are nearly three dozen calls for submissions in January. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from speculative fiction to poetry to personal essays.

NOTE: I post calls for submissions on the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)


_________________________



Apex Publications. Apex is open to receiving dark scifi/fantasy/horror novellas and novels during the month of January 2018. They consider novellas of 30,000 to 40,000 words and novels up to 120,000 words. Pays royalties and an advance.

Smoking Pen Press. Genre: Romance short stories. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 1, 2018.

Left Hooks. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: January 1, 2018.

Minerva Rising. Genres: Nonfiction prose, fiction, poetry. Theme: Roots, Wings, and Everything In Between. Payment: $50 for fiction or nonfiction prose and $35 for poetry. Deadline: January 1, 2018.

Ellipsis. Genre: Flash fiction. "Submit no more than 300 words, fiction or non-fiction, in response to the prompt word(s) ‘Two/Too/To."  Payment: Royalties. Deadline: January 5, 2018.

Insignia. Genre: Speculative fiction, short stories. Theme: "Stories for this anthology may be set in any Asian country (real or imagined), and main characters should be natives also. The ‘birds and beasts’ concept is open to include any type of animal (real or mythical), and that animal must be important to the story. Animal-shifters are great, as well as stories of people encountering mythical beasts.  Your animal could be a hero or a villain, just entertain us with your unique idea."  Payment: 0-2000 words = US$5 / 2001-6000 words = US$10. Deadline: January 7, 2018.  Reprints accepted.

Black Rabbit. Genres: Poetry, fiction (900 words max) and personal essays (250 words max).  Payment: $25 per piece. Deadline: January 8, 2018.
Alien Dimensions. Genre: Speculative fiction. "ProxiBee 2118.” Payment: $10. Deadline: January 10, 2018.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Holiday Collection. Genre: True stories and poems. "People love reading about the winter holidays – from Thanksgiving all the way through New Year’s Day. We want to hear about your traditions and how they came to be. We want to hear about your holiday memories and the rituals that create the foundation of your life. We love to hear about the funny things too: the ugly holiday sweaters, the gingerbread house that kept falling down, the re-gifting embarrassments and the fruit cake disasters. Please be sure your stories are “Santa safe” so we don’t spoil the magic for any precocious young readers." Payment: $200. Deadline: January 10, 2018.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Empowered Woman. Genre: True stories and poems. "Whether you are single or married, working or retired, widowed or divorced, working or stay-at-home, you are in-charge of your life and the decisions you make. A woman doesn’t have to lose her femininity or become a bully to be empowered. A woman doesn’t have to be single, divorced or widowed to be looked upon as independent. Married women and women in relationships are independent too. We are looking for your true stories on how you are running your life, how you became empowered and achieved independence. Your story will help women of all ages feel stronger, more capable, and more confident… more empowered." Payment: $200. Deadline: January 10, 2018.

The Stinging Fly. Genre: Poetry and short stories. Payment: "Token." Deadline: January 11, 2018.

Outlook Springs. Genre: Poetry and short fiction. "Send us your weird, wobbly wordwork: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry." Payment: $10 for poems, $25 for prose. Deadline: January 11, 2018.

Splickety: Dystopian Disaster. Genre: Flash fiction, between 300 and 1,000 words long. "The future is here, and it’s worse than we imagined. Societal collapse, cruel government, anarchy, famine, plague—send us a story that wrecks our world. We want teenage characters who struggle through the wreckage for justice, freedom, or life itself. When nightmare is reality, who will survive?" Payment: 2 cents/word. Deadline: January 12, 2018.

The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, mixed media, visual arts, "and even kitchen sinks, if they are compressed in some way." Payment: $50. Deadline: January 15, 2018. (?)

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Miracle of Love. Genre: True stories. "We’re looking for stories about how you found love. And how you kept it fresh over the years. New love, old love, please warm our hearts with your stories and poems." Payment: $200. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Mind Candy 2.0. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Ruminate. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $17/page with a max of $68 a poem. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Great Weather for MEDIA. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short stories, dramatic monologues, and creative nonfiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

QU. Genre: Fiction, essays, script excerpts, poetry. Payment: $100 per prose piece, $50 per poem. Deadline: January 15, 2018

Rattle: Athlete Poets. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $100. Deadline: January 15, 2018.
Liminal. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. "We like stories that are strange and unsettling, sharp-edged and evocative. Although we will consider any genre, we have a soft spot for weird fiction, magical realism, soft science fiction, and those uncategorizable stories that straddle the line between genres." Payment: 6 cents/word/fiction. $50/poem. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Helios Magazine. THEME: “Exquisite Corpse” Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art. Payment:$0.03 USD per word for the first 1,500 words and $0.01 USD after for short stories, and $0.25 USD a line for poetry. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Enchanted Conversation. Genre: Fairy tale. Theme: Un rêve d'amour (A Dream of Love). Payment: Story pay: $30, Poem pay: $10. US dollars only. Deadline: January 20, 2018.

Zathom. Genre: Poetry, short stories, musings. Payment: $10. Deadline: January 26, 2018.

Carrion Blue 555: “The Garden of Earthly Delights” Anthology. Genre: Fiction, poetry, plays, and pretty much any other formats you can think of. (Creative non-fiction is encouraged but pitch your concept beforehand.) We are seeking new and original work inspired by the famed Bosch triptych, “The Garden of Earthly Delights.” Pieces can be accounts of scenes occurring within the painting; further adventures of the denizens of the painting; bizarre odes to the painting itself; some conglomerate of the above; or something entirely different. Length: 7K words max: if your submission is longer (or is expected to be), pitch them the concept beforehand. Payment: Half cent a word with a $5.00 minimum. No simultaneous submissions. Deadline: January 31st, 2018.

Room Magazine. Genre: Feminist fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, art, interviews, and book reviews. "Room magazine invites women and genderqueer folks who identify as part of the LGBTTQIA+ spectrum to submit their best poetry, fiction, CNF, and art to our first queer-themed issue. We especially encourage submissions from writers affected by multiple intersections of oppression, such as racism, classism, ableism, fatphobia, ageism, and transphobia." Payment: $50 CAD for one page, $60 for two pages, $90 for three pages, $120 for four pages, $150 for five or more pages. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Fiyah: Issue 6 Theme: Big Mama Nature. Genre: Short fiction, poetry. "We’re looking for stories of Nature and her swift backhand when folks get out of line. Give us your stories of ecological wastelands, futures full of solar powered punks, or natural disasters. Climate fiction is the name of the game, and Big Mama don’t play." Payment: Short stories (2,000 – 7,000 words): $150 USD; Novelettes (Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Barking Sycamores. Genre: Poetry, short fiction, hybrid genre, creative nonfiction, book reviews, and artwork submissions. Theme: The Undiscovered Country. "Barking Sycamores is a literary journal entirely edited and operated by queer, neurodivergent people of color. We also welcome and publish essays about neurodivergence and the creation of literature." Payment: Unspecified.  Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Prairie Fire "Love Issue." Genre: Short stories, creative nonfiction, poetry on theme of "Love."  Payment: 10 cents/word for prose, $40 per poem. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Sharkpack. Genre: Poetry, art, short fiction. Payment: Visual artists will be paid a small honorarium for their work; contributors of letters will receive a minimum $25 per published piece. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Twyckenham Notes. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $10. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Monologue Bank. Genre: Monologues, plays. Payment: Writers receive 80% per download (monologue or play). Deadline: January 31, 2018.

NonBinary Review. Genre: poetry, fiction, essays, and art on theme of "The Little Prince." Payment: 1 cent per word for fiction and nonfiction, and a flat fee of $10 for poetry (singular poems or a suite)  and $25 per piece of visual art. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Hyperion and Theia. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme of Rebus. Payment: 2 - 3 cents/word. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

40 Writing Contests in January 2018 - No entry fees

There are more than three dozen free writing contests in January 2018. As always, every form and genre is represented. There are prizes for novel manuscripts, poetry, short stories, essays, works of nonfiction, political writing, translations and more. Some of these contests have age and regional restrictions, so be sure to check submission guidelines before submitting.

Many contests are offered annually, so if you miss your ideal contest this year,  you can always enter next year. For a month-by-month list of free contests see: Writing Contests
___________________
Small But Mighty. Restrictions: Children ages 7-11 and 12-15. Genre: Fiction and poetry. Prize: Writing supplies, certificate, and publication on website. Deadline: January 1, 2018.

Tony Hillerman Prize. Sponsored by St. Martin's Press. Genre: Debut mystery novel set in Southwest. Prize: $10,000 advance against royalties and publication, Deadline: January 2, 2018.

Texas Institute of Letters Literary Awards. Restrictions: Entrants must have resided in Texas for at least 2 consecutive years, or have been born in Texas. Genre: Book (published). 11 different categories. Prize: $6,000. Deadline: January 2, 2018.

Christopher Doheny Award. The award recognizes excellence in fiction or creative nonfiction on the topic of serious physical illness. The award is presented annually for a completed manuscript that has not yet been published. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 2, 2018.

The Mogford Prize for Food And Drink Writing. Genre: Short story which specifically includes the subjects of food and/or drink within the plot. 2500 words. Prize:£7,500 to be awarded during the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival in April 2016. Deadline: January 3, 2018.

Best Villain Fairy Tale Competition. Genre: Short story. "Are you tired of only reading about the “good guys”? Well, here is your chance to turn the spotlight on the villains of fairy tales and folk tales. Fairytalez wants to hear the other side of the story, the villains behind a so-called “happily ever after”! After all, as they say, even the villain is the hero in their own story. Let’s hear it for the “bad” guys! You may either write a new fairy tale or folk tale with a new original villain character or take one of the classics and write the untold story from the villain’s point of view." Prize: Active promotion across all Fairytalez’s social networks. A digital winner badge published with your story and on your profile page. A digital winner badge for your blog or website. A $200 gift certificate to Amazon.com Deadline: January 3, 2018.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Restrictions: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Genre: Essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1956. Prize: The first-place winner receives $10,000 comprised of a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 from John Hancock. The second-place winner receives $1,000. Up to five finalists receive $500 each. Deadline: January 4, 2018.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest Grades. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 6-12th Graders. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: January 5, 2018 for Grades 6-10, January 19, 2018 for Grades 11-12.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community. The prestigious award aims to provide promising writers a network for professional advancement. Since Poets & Writers began the Writers Exchange in 1984, 85 writers from 33 states and the District of Columbia have been selected to participate. Restrictions: Open to Arkansas residents. Genre: Poetry and Fiction. Prize: A $500 honorarium; A trip to New York City to meet with editors, agents, publishers, and other writers. All related travel/lodgings expenses and a per diem stipend are covered by Poets & Writers. Winners will also give a public reading of their work; and One-month residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming. Deadline: January 8, 2018.

Leah Ryan's FEWW Playwriting Prize. Restrictions: Open to women. Genre: Completed full-length work for theater.  Prize: $2,500, a workshop at the Vassar Powerhouse Theater, and a reading in New York City. Deadline: January 8, 2018.

Japan Center-Canon Essay Competition. The aim of the Japan Center Essay Competition is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan in the United States and to help young Americans broaden their international horizons. Genre: Essay. Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals. (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese. Prize: Best Essay Award in the High School Division: 1st Place: $3,000 and a Canon camera, 2nd Place: $1,500 and a Canon camera, 3rd Place: $750 and a Canon camera; Best Essay Award in the College Division: $3,000 and a Canon camera; Uchida Memorial Award: $1,000 and a Canon camera; Merit Award: $200 (each) for up to five awards. Deadline: January 8, 2018.

Orwell Prize. Genre: Political writing published between 1st January and 31st January 2017. All entries must have a clear British link. Journalism and ‘exposing Britain’s social evils’. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 11, 2018. (Their website is impossible to figure out, which is ironic.)

Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Crime Novel Competition. Restrictions: The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. Genre: Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 12, 2018.

Moving Words Poetry Contest. Restrictions: People who live within the DC Metro transit area (the Northern Virginia counties Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun and the cities Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church; the District of Columbia; and the Maryland counties Montgomery and Prince George's) and who are over 18. Genre: Poetry on theme: “Ripped from the Headlines.” Prize: $250 honorarium. Deadline: January 12, 2018.

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Genre: First novel published July–December 2017. No self-published books. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 14, 2018.

Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Competition. Genre: Essay relating to art, history, literature, education, personal narratives, and music as they relate to medicine, as well reports on famous physicians or hospitals. Length: 1600 words max. Prizes: $3000 to a top finalist and (2) awards of $800 to two runners-up. Deadline: January 14, 2018.

The Ellen Meloy Fund for Desert Writers was established in 2005 to honor the memory of Ellen Meloy. The Fund provides support to writers whose work reflects the spirit and passions embodied in Ellen’s writing and her commitment to a “deep map of place.” Ellen’s own map-in-progress was of the desert country she called home. Genre: Only literary or creative nonfiction proposals will be considered. No fiction or poetry proposals will be reviewed. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

The Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize. Genre: First full-length book of poems by a Latinx poet. Prize: $1000 and a contract from University of Notre Dame Press. Upon publication of the winning book, Letras Latinas will extend an invitation to both the winner and the judge to give a joint reading at Notre Dame. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Joan Swift Memorial Prize. Restrictions: Open to women over age 65 now living and writing in the Pacific NW - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, northern California, western Montana, British Columbia, and Alaska. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500 and publication in Poetry Northwest.  Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Women Artists Datebook. Restrictions: Women. Genre: 4 poems. Peace and Justice. Prize: $70. Deadline: January 15, 2018.  Read details HERE .

Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award. Genre: Poem, 3-10 pages long, that demonstrates a "truly inventive spirit." Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize. Restrictions: Open to women, US citizens only. Genre: Novel. All entries must be submitted by publishers who wish to have the work of their authors that were published in the year 2017 considered. No self-published works or works from vanity presses will be accepted. Prize: $7,500. Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Bethesda Literary Festival Essay and Short Story Contest. The Bethesda Urban Partnership & Bethesda Magazine have partnered to honor local writers at the Bethesda Literary Festival held April. Genres: Essays and short stories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First Place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Deadline: January 19, 2018.

Poetry Society of Virginia - Student Contest. Restrictions: Open to students in Virginia, grades 3 - 12. Prize: $10 - $25. Deadline: January 19, 2018.

. The annual Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize is awarded each spring to honor an outstanding literary translation from German into English published in the USA the previous year.  Genre: Published fiction or non-fiction, may include: novels, novellas, short stories, plays, poetry, biographies, essays and correspondence. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Prize: A $10,000 prize will be awarded for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Imagine Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories in Japanese or English for its second annual “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. The setting of the story should be in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA– either past, present or future. Prize: $600. The winner of the youth division (18 or younger) will receive $400. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Words and Brushes. Genre: Fiction inspired by artwork. Prize: $300 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2018. (Submission guidelines say "February." I don't know if that means on February 1st or by February 1st, so I am erring on the safe side.)

Indigenous Voices Award. Restrictions: Open to emerging Indigenous writers in lands claimed by Canada. Genre: Novels, creative non-fiction, short stories, poetry, orality, graphic novels, comics, slam, drama, music lyrics, screenwriting, and other forms. Prize: 5 awards for unpublished work totaling $10,000 and 3 awards for published work totaling $15,000. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Radiating You. Restrictions: You must be 18 years old or older. Genre: Personal essay. "We all have thoughts and secrets we hold close so no one else will know or judge us. Things we push down so we don’t hurt those we love. Feelings that continue to haunt us because they are never shared. Are you brave enough to share yours? Radiating You is launching a contest to uncover the real and unfiltered side of life." Prize. 1st place $100, 2nd place $75, 3rd place $50. Length: 500 words maximum. Deadline: January 31, 2018. NOTE: By submitting, you’re granting permission for Radiating You to use your submission on their blogs, social media channels, or future book.

Prospero Prizes. Genre: Poems of philosophical and imaginative heft, haft, and polish. Prize: $150 and feature publication in their digital magazines. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

15th Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Awards. Restrictions: Only undergraduates currently enrolled in accredited United States medical schools are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2018. Note: Winners do not retain copyright.

6 Writing Conferences and Workshops in January 2018

In the dead of winter, writing conferences slow down. That being said, there are some noteworthy conferences in warmer climes during the month of January.

In Florida, the cities of Key West, Palm Beach and St. Petersburg host writing workshops in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as panel discussions, readings, and presentations. (Please note that some of these conferences are waitlisted. I have included them so you can plan ahead for next year.)

I strongly encourage all serious writers to attend a conference. Workshops and conferences are the best way to find an agent, and they offer wonderful opportunities for networking with other writers and learning about the publishing industry from insiders.

You can find a monthly list of conferences and workshops, as well as links to help you find conferences in your area here: Writing Conferences.
_________________

Key West Literary Seminar. January 11 - 14, 2018 (seminar) and January 15 - 19, 2018 (workshop), Key West, Florida. The seminar offers readings, lectures, and conversations with poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. The island nations of the Caribbean have produced some of the most powerful and exciting writers of our time. For the 36th annual Key West Literary Seminar, we look across the waves to the vital literature that has emerged from this region. In bringing these writers together in Key West, we seek to both celebrate and transcend geography, in pursuit of the stories that hold us together. WAITLISTED

TMW January Jumpstart XVII. Jan 12 - 14, 2018, Oak Ridge, TN. Parallel sessions of workshops on fiction, poetry, nonfiction, writing for young people, editing, storytelling, self publishing, oral history, keeping series books fresh; panel discussions/readings; Saturday banquet. Darnell Arnoult will lead Fiction and Bill Brown returns to lead Poetry.

Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. January 12 - 15, 2018, Galloway, New Jersey. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft talks, one-on-one tutorials, featured readings, and open mics. Stephen Dunn and Gregory Pardlo are the Special Guests. Tuition, which includes some meals, ranges from $490 to $690, depending on the workshop; lodging is not included.

Eckerd College Writers’ Conference. January 13 - 20, 2018, St. Petersburg, FL. Workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, Q&As, readings book signings, and receptions. The faculty includes poets Richard Blanco, Denise Duhamel, Major Jackson, and Peter Meinke; fiction writers Lan Samantha Chang, Andre Dubus III, Laura Lippman, Stewart O’Nan, Cathie Pelletier, Les Standiford, Sterling Watson; creative nonfiction writers Ann Hood and Helen Wallace; editor Colleen Lawrie (PublicAffairs); and agent Alexis Hurley (InkWell Management).

Palm Beach Poetry Festival. January 15 - 20, 2018, Delray Beach, Florida. The faculty includes poets Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Chard diNirod, Beth Ann Fennelly, Ross Gay, Rodney Jones, Phillis Levin, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Tim Seibles. The guest speaker is poet Coleman Barks. $895 includes all events, one gala seat; $495/auditor. Accepted participants may schedule a one-on-one conference at additional cost. Submit three poems of up to six pages with a $25 application fee by November 10.

The Cabins Collaborative Retreat. January 25 - 29, 2018, Norfolk, Connecticut. The retreat features master classes, social activities, and time to write for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. Participants are provided with cabin lodging and some meals. Transportation expenses are not included. The cost of the retreat is $300 for lodging in a shared room with a shared bath, or $400 for lodging in a private room with a queen bed and shared bath. Meals and transportation are not included. To apply, submit a link to your website or links to your writing, an application, a statement of intent, and a short bio by December 26. Full and partial scholarships are available. Space is limited to nine participants; early applications are encouraged.

38 Google Plus Communities for Writers

Google+ is a resource many writers overlook, in part because Facebook and Twitter were already established long before Google came along with its social media platform. The truth is that Google+ is not as versatile, or as easy to navigate as either Facebook or Twitter, and Google's recent simplification has not made it any more competitive.

All of that being said, Google+ still has a great deal to offer writers in the form of communities. There are dozens of active writing communities on Google+, spanning everything from poetry, to self-publishing, to blogging.

I've listed below the communities I have found most useful as a writer, but there are many more. You can find a full list of all communities here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/discover

General

Writers, Authors, Bloggers - 57,365 members. Public community. "This is a community for writers, authors, publishers, bloggers to share ideas, thoughts, suggestions. Also post links to your website to build followers & advertise your products."

The Writers Community - 52,995 members. Public community. "Any and all things concerning writing and writers."

Writers' Corner - 44, 108 members. Public community. "Love to write stories, poems and all things? Join the realm of Blissful Writers who enjoy writing poems, stories, novels, quotes of inspiration. novellas and so forth. We have both the traditionalists and self-publishers. Categories such as Romance, Poetry, Haiku, Inspiration, Sci-Fi, Horror, Erotica, Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery, Crime and more."

Writing - 32, 621 members. Public community. "The art and science of writing." Links to blog posts and upcoming books are allowed.

Writers' Blogs - 29,376 members. Public community. "Share you writer's blog here. Share any blog on the topic of writing or reading. Authors and writers, share your social media links."

The Art of Writing - 18, 356 members. Public community. "A place for Writers of all genres to share, inspire, advise and share ideas about writing better. Ask for people to critique, make contacts for agent referrals and to just have fun doing what you love."

Writers of Google+ - 11,536 members. Public community. "A gathering of all the writerly Google plussers!"

Where Writers and Authors Meet - 8,678 members. Public community. "Where fellow writers and authors can meet other writers and authors. Readers are welcome to come on in and talk with us too ;) Feel free to share book free days, reviews, tours, guest posts, or anything else of note. Written something online? Drop a link for us to look into! Have some promotional, publishing, or writing advice to share? Feel free! Is anyone out there 'just' a blogger? Come on in! We can all learn from each other's experiences! There is a lot of good writing out there that has yet to be discovered."

Genres

Fantasy Writers - 14,448 members. Public community.

Horror/Mystery Writers - 1,928 members. Public community.

Poets of G+ - 23,258 members. Public community.

Poetry - 53,943 members. Public community.

Romance Writers and Readers - 5,714 members. Public community.

Science Fiction - 89, 821 members. Public community.

Science Fiction Writers - 5,906 members. Public community.

Short Stories and Poems - 6,857 members. Public community.

Speculative Fiction Writers - 5,583 members. Public community.

Young Adult Books - 8358 members. Public community.

Young Adult Lit and Writing - 44,330 members. Public community.


Book Promotion and Marketing

Promote Your Book! - 18, 154 members. Public community.

Writers' Market, Tools, Tips, Showcase and Support - 9,583 members. Public community.

Discussing Book Marketing & Promotion - 9,421 members. Public community.

Authors - Blatant Promo 4 Writers, Blogs! - 8,343 members. Public community.

Author Marketing Club - 4,437 members. Public community.

APE - 3,526 members. Private community.


Readers

Reading - 25,256 members. Public community.

Readers and Writers - 9,448 members. Public community.


Reviewers

Book Reviews - 20, 736 members. Public community.

Book Reviewers - 18,955 members. Public community.


Blogging

Blogging - 66,336 members. Public community.

Bloggers Network - 28,399 members. Public community.

Blog Writers United - 2,644 members. Public community.


Self-Published Authors and Self-Publishing

E-Book Publishing - 23,293 members. Public community.

Indie Readers and Writers - 14,341 members. Public community.

Indie Authors and Readers - 10,760 members. Public community.

Kindle and Ebook Writers - 9,208 members. Public community.

Self-Publishing and Book Marketing - 7,846 members. Public community.

Self-Publishing Children's Books - 575 members. Public community.

2 New Literary Agents Seeking Clients

These two new agents are seeking clients. Jordan Hamessley is actively building a list of diverse children’s fiction from picture books through YA and select adult science fiction and horror authors. She is also looking for quirky, non-fiction picture books with a STEM focus. Eva Scalzo is interested in romance and YA in all categories.

ALWAYS check the agency website before submitting. Agents may switch agencies or close their lists and submission requirements may change.

If these agents do not suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

_________________ Jordan Hamessley of New Leaf Literary & Media

With nearly a decade of experience working on the editorial side of publishing at Penguin Young Readers (Grosset & Dunlap), Egmont USA, and Adaptive Studios, Jordan made the switch to agenting. Jordan had the pleasure of editing many award winning and critically acclaimed authors such as Sara Benincasa, Len Vlahos, Ilsa J. Bick, Adam-Troy Castro, E.C. Myers, Dori Hillestad Butler, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead, Michelle Schusterman and more.

She earned a reputation as an editor for being the “horror girl” and edited horror and ghost stories for all ages from chapter books (The Haunted Library series by Dori Hillestad Butler), middle grade (Gustav Gloom series by Adam-Troy Castro) to YA (Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward.) She also has a deep affection for contemporary middle grade with heart and humor. She is always looking to find stories that bring the queer experience to the children’s space across all age ranges.

Some of her favorite reads of the last few years include Nova Ren Suma’s The Walls Around Us, Isabel Quintero’s Gabi: A Girl in Pieces, Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts, Charlie Jane Anders’s All the Birds in the Sky, and Barbara Dee’s Star-Crossed.

What she is seeking: She is actively building a list of diverse children’s fiction from picture books through YA and select adult science fiction and horror authors. She is also looking for quirky, non-fiction picture books with a STEM focus.

How to submit: Send query to query@newleafliterary.com. Please do not query via phone.
The word “Query” must be in the subject line, plus the agent’s name, ie – Subject: Query, Jordan Hamessley. Please also include the category (ie, PB, chapter book, MG, YA, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, etc.) You may include up to 5 double-spaced sample pages within the body of the email

_________________ Eva Scalzo at Speilburg Literary Agency

Eva Scalzo was born in New Jersey, but has lived in Houston, Buenos Aires, San Juan, and Boston before settling down outside of Binghamton, New York. She has a B.A. in the Humanities from the University of Puerto Rico and a M.A. in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College. Since graduating in 2002, she has spent her career in scholarly publishing, working for Houghton Mifflin, Blackwell Publishing, John Wiley & Sons, and Cornell University in a variety of roles.

Eva has been reading romance since the fifth grade when she discovered the Sweet Valley High series. On inheriting her grandmother’s collection of vintage Harlequin Romances, she promptly set about filling the gaps, and her goal is to someday finish reading all the treasures. Eva is looking to represent all subgenres of Romance, with the exclusion of inspirational romance, as well as Young Adult fiction.

What she is seeking: I want to see more romance novels where the tension is less about the relationship and more about the obstacles outside of the relationship. One of my least favorite tropes in romance is the grand gesture trope—relationships are built on trust and communication. If your characters develop and grow their relationship organically, there shouldn’t be a big misunderstanding that breaks them apart, especially if all they need to do is actually talk (and listen!) to one another.

Multicultural romance is also something I want to see more of. I support the #OwnVoices campaign to increase the diversity in Romance not just of the characters but also of its authors. As a Latina I love seeing my culture represented in the books I read, I want others to feel that way too.

As a category mainly written by women for women, I want to see strong, smart female leads. Dominant men are okay, but misogyny and sexism are not. One subcategory I struggle with is Motorcycle Club romances, because I really don’t enjoy the club above all mentality and the way they tend to treat women. Ironically, I don’t have a problem with Highland romances where one could argue the attitudes of the clans are similar to a motorcycle club, but the historical context makes a big difference here.

In Young Adult I’m open to most subcategories, but there should be strong romantic elements regardless. I’d like to see contemporary, paranormal, science fiction, mystery/suspense and fantasy, but not historical.

How to Submit: Please send all unsolicited submissions via e-mail to: speilburgliterary@gmail.com.

In the subject line of your query email, please include “Query [AGENT’S FIRST NAME]” followed by the title of your project.

For fiction, please send the query letter and the first three chapters in the body of the email, no attachments please.

3 Agents Seeking Literary and Commercial Fiction, Nonfiction, Kidlit

​These three agents are actively seeking writers. Jennifer Chen Tran (Bradford Literary) is interested in representing literary and commercial fiction. In nonfiction, she loves books that broaden her world view or shed new light on “big ideas.”  Amanda Annis (Trident Media Group) is looking for literary fiction and nonfiction. Wendi Gu (Janklow & Nesbit) want illustrators, children's literature, and adult literary fiction and nonfiction that speaks to cultural identity negotiation, displacement, and race relations.

ALWAYS check the agency website before submitting. Agents may switch agencies or close their lists and submission requirements may change.

If these agents do not suit your needs, you can find a comprehensive list of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.
____________________ Wendi Gu of Janklow & Nesbit

Wendi grew up in the sleepy suburbs of Chicago and studied Creative Writing at Northwestern University. As an undergraduate, she interned with children’s book agent Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, and continued working there as a literary assistant after graduation. She soon began representing her own picture books, middle-grade, and young adult titles with a special interest in girl power, family relationships, and the immigrant experience. She likes stories that root for the underdog. Her favorite books have voices that range from warm and lyrical, to witty and deadpan. She is lucky enough to work with authors of new and forthcoming titles like Sterling, Best Dog Ever by Aidan Cassie (FSG Books for Young Readers, Spring 2018) and Paper Son: The Story of Tyrus Wong by Julie Leung and illustrated by Chris Sasaki (Schwartz & Wade, Fall 2019).

What she is seeking: For illustration, she enjoys elegant and eclectic color palletes, and looks for nuanced character expression and dynamic composition. She is very interested in unconventional illustration mediums like cut paper and photo illustration. Wendi is always on the lookout for nonfiction picture book biographies on little-known heroes in history.

Wendi also represents adult titles in adult literary fiction and nonfiction that speaks to cultural identity negotiation, displacement, and race relations.

How to Query: For submissions, please send a query letter and a ten page sample of your book to Wendi at submissions@janklow.com.

_______________________
​

Jennifer Chen Tran of Bradford Literary

Jennifer Chen Tran joined Bradford Literary Agency in September 2017. Originally from New York, Jennifer is a lifelong reader and experienced member of the publishing industry. Prior to joining Bradford Literary, she was an Associate Agent at Fuse Literary and served as Counsel at The New Press. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Northeastern School of Law in Boston, MA, and a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jennifer understands the importance of negotiation in securing rights on behalf of her authors. She counsels her clients on how to expand their platforms, improve on craft, and works collaboratively with her clients throughout the editorial and publication process. Her ultimate goal is to work in concert with authors to shape books that will have a positive social impact on the world—books that also inform and entertain.

Select titles that Jennifer has represented: I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER by Cori Salchert (Barbour/ Shiloh Run Press); BREAKING UP & BOUNCING BACK by Samantha Burns (Dover/ Ixia Press); THE ART OF ESCAPING by Erin Callahan (Amberjack); MATCH MADE IN MANHATTAN by Amanda Stauffer (Skyhorse); A CROWDFUNDER’S STRATEGY GUIDE by Jamey Stegmaier (Berrett-Koehler).

Some of her favorite books include: NEVER LET ME GO, by Kazuo Ishiguro, THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING by Joan Didion, THE UNWANTED by Kien Nguyen, BYRD by Kim Church, and AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang, among many others.

What she is seeking: Jennifer is very interested in diverse writers and #ownvoices from underrepresented/ marginalized communities, strong and conflicted characters who are not afraid to take emotional risks, stories about multi-generational conflict, war and post-war fiction, and writing with a developed sense of place. She enjoys both literary and commercial fiction. In nonfiction, she loves books that broaden her world view or shed new light on “big ideas.”

Fiction:

Women’s Fiction (Contemporary, Upmarket, Literary)
Select Young Adult (must have distinct voice)
Select Middle Grade
Graphic novels and visually-driven projects

Nonfiction (particularly in the areas of):

Narrative nonfiction (biography, current affairs, medical, investigative journalism, history, how-to, music, pop-culture, travel)
Cookbooks & culinary projects
Lifestyle (home, design, beauty, fashion)
Business Books (social entrepreneurship, female and/or minority-led businesses, and innovation)
Select memoir with an established platform
Parenting
Relationships and Psychology
Mind, body, spirit

Jennifer is NOT looking for:

Children’s picture books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Westerns
Erotica
Poetry
Screenplays

How to Submit:

Fiction: Please email a query letter along with the first chapter of your manuscript and a synopsis pasted into the body of your email. Please be sure to include the genre and word count in your cover letter.

Illustrators: If you are an illustrator and/or seeking representation to artwork alone, please include a link to your online portfolio and a link to the online dummy. Please do not attach artwork to the email submission.

Nonfiction: Please email your full non-fiction proposal including a query letter and a sample chapter.

To avoid falling into spam, the subject line must begin as follows: QUERY: (The title of the manuscript and any SHORT message you would like the agent to see should follow). Attachments will not be opened, unless specifically requested by the agent. Your entire submission must appear in the body of the email and not as an attachment. E-mail the submission to jen@bradfordlit.com.
__________________
​
Amanda Annis of Trident Media Group

For Amanda Annis, her love of books has always been at the center of her career. She has worked as a writer with a B.F.A. in poetry, a bookseller, and as an editor at several publishers including Penguin Random House, Cambridge University Press, and Love Among the Ruins. Amanda now brings that same passion to Trident as a literary agent. Here, she is able to guide her authors through every step, from the editorial board to the bookstore.

What she is seeking: Fiction: Literary fiction. Nonfiction: Self-help, Biography, Food & Wine, Health & Fitness.  “I love narratives that take me into a world I would not know otherwise, especially those that are beautifully told.”

How to submit: Amanda is accepting submissions via online form, here. Follow Amanda on Twitter @diaryofaneditor.

One of my books saved someone from suicide

Five years ago, I self-published the second edition of a book I’d originally written with my friend and associate Lauren Gellman in 1998. The first edition, which was published by St. Martin’s Press, was out of print, and I didn’t want to go through the long, grueling process of finding an agent and publisher again. So I went ahead and published an electronic second edition on Amazon. 

After a few months of promotion, during which I gave away more than 15,000 copies, I turned my attention to other projects. I stopped reading the reviews on Amazon — until yesterday, when for some undefinable reason I decided to see if anything new had popped up.

The book is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Treatment Guide, 2nd Edition. At the time of its first release in 1998, there were no other books on the market focusing on treatments for the disease, which is not only difficult to treat, but permanently disables about a quarter of the people who contract it. (In the late 90s, the press was still calling it “yuppie flu.” It is properly called myalgic encephalomyelitis.) The book was groundbreaking. But only 5,000 copies were sold. The book’s release was, as a British friend of mine put it, “Silent as a pee in bath.”

The second edition was about twice as long as the first. (One reason I published the second edition as an ebook was that nobody would have been able to afford, let alone lift, a 750-page book.) I put a year of work into it, which I chalked up as a “labor of love” — something that was a noble effort, if ultimately unacknowledged.

All of that changed yesterday. Below is the review I found of my book. I don’t know this person. I will never meet this person. But my heart was torn when I read this review on Amazon.

They say that if you reach even one person, it makes writing worthwhile. In this instance nothing could be more true. Someone Astonishing, I did it all for you.

___________________

I Wanted To Die.

By Someone Astonishing on January 4, 2017

I’m wiped out. That’s how I feel right now. And pretty much most of the time . . . for the past 26 years. I had toyed with the notion that my malady might be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but I already had so many weird, random, all-in-my-head symptoms, that I hated to bring it up and sound like even more of a hypochondriac to my doctor. Admittedly, I used to be more assertive and push for doctors to hear me: there was more wrong with me than a constant string of random, unprovable, seemingly-unrelated symptoms. But, I always came away with a psych referral — not a diagnosis. So, I grew leery of bringing up more than the manifesting symptoms. But, I’ve been with my doctor for ten years; if I was really sick with CFS, wouldn’t she have realized it? She already diagnosed me with fibromyalgia years ago (often a dual diagnosis). Wouldn’t she have caught on? After all, I constantly complain of fatigue and malaise, as well as all the other hallmarks. Well, the answer is a resounding NO. The medical community cannot be counted on to recognize or even believe CFS exists.

So, I struggled with the brain fog and read this book to try to help myself. All of my “imaginary” symptoms? Every one of them is described in this book. Here were my decades of misery and depression laid bare. I was now able to put together a clear picture of my illness and present it to my doctor. She heard me out and actually agreed with my diagnosis. And, although there’s nothing more we can do than treat the symptoms as we have been, I feel better. No, wait, I don’t feel better. But, I do feel free.

I no longer doubt myself. I don’t question if my symptoms are real. I don’t blame myself or fitness level when I’m out of breath and can’t do things. I’m not constantly pushing myself, trying to do everything like “normal” people can (and like I thought I should). I no longer work myself to the point that it takes 4 days to recover from 1 afternoon. I’ve accepted my limits and am making sure that those closest to me accept them, too. For decades, I was ruthlessly mean to myself for being lazy or overweight or out of shape. Everything was a failure on my part.

I’ve been miserable; I was beyond depressed. This book literally — and I do mean literally — saved my life. I couldn’t have forced myself to go on much longer. Yes, I am saying that I would definitely have been a suicide statistic. But, I gained power from reading: power to name my tormentor, power to stop blaming myself and power to find some inner peace.

Now, I follow the stellar advice, found here, of planning what I intend to accomplish each day and then do 75% of it. This remarkably simple tip has helped me reshape my life. I make it through my day unfrazzled, and still have something left for tomorrow. My experience with this book has been wonderful. I wholeheartedly recommend this work to anyone wondering if they might have CFS or to those just wanting to gain a better understanding of the syndrome. It’s an extremely thorough and well-written treatment of the subject.

Now, I thank you for reading my story, but I really am worn out and my shoulders are killing, but my attitude is soaring like it hasn’t in . . . forever. Time for a rest, friends.

_____________________

Epilogue: I thought my work was over when I published my book, but since then it has only expanded. Someone Astonishing, like so many others, has nowhere to turn for help. One book was not enough, so I founded a national non-profit, the American Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society (AMMES.org). Its aim is to help patients find knowledgeable physicians, effective treatments, support, and practical assistance. There is hope.

Why You Need an Author Profile - And Where to Post It

One of my hugely informative profiles. Don't do this. Author profiles are an essential part of book marketing and promotion. An author profile is a mini-biography. It tells something about the author that will interest the reader, includes a headshot, and links to the author's books. Depending on where you post your profile, you can also include a link to your website or blog, events, videos, and answers to questions posed by readers.

Profiles are useful for several reasons. First, anyone who has enjoyed your book will want to find out more about you. And second, your fans will want to read other books by you. Third, profiles provide an avenue for engagement with readers.

Your profile isn't just who you are, it's who your readers think you should be.

The two foundations of a profile are:

Headshot - Readers, first and foremost, want to know what authors look like. How many times have you read a book and then hunted around on the back for a photo? Maybe, you've even done that before you read the book. Make sure your photo is professional. Depending on what you write your portrait can be serious (literary fiction), friendly (children's fiction), brooding (horror), congenial (general fiction), authoritative (non-fiction) - whatever you write, your personality should reflect your genre. A good photographer can make a work of difference, so work with a professional.

Bio - Bios are written in third person. As with the headshot, your bio should match your genre or topic. If you are writing non-fiction, your credentials are most important. What gives you the authority to write your book? If you write humor, make it clever. If you write for children, you can include your family, your pets. If you are writing general fiction for adults, write about your background, your professional career, where you live. (Do not write about your first writing project when you were in grade school!) Do you have any awards? Make sure to include them. Pretend that your publicist is writing about you - not your mother.

Where to post your profile

It goes without saying that your profile needs to be the central pillar of your website, but the two other places you absolutely must post your profile are Amazon and Goodreads. These two sites get an enormous amount of traffic. If you are self-publishing, make sure to post your profile on the platform you are using. Post a shortened profile on social media and networking platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+). If you keep a blog (and you should), post a profile on your blog, and wherever you re-post (Medium, Scriggler, etc). Post your profile on groups you are a member of (alumni associations, professional guilds, etc). And post it where you promote your book (BookBub). In other words, post your profile everywhere you can. People who read your book will want to find you, so make it easy for them.

Helpful articles:

BookWorks has an excellent step-by-step set of instructions for making best use of your Author Central Page here: How to Optimize Your Amazon Author Central Page

You can find additional homes for your author profile here: 12 Author Profile Sites to Boost Your Discoverability 

________________

Amazon Author Central

Amazon is the largest Internet retailer in the world, so chances are good your book is for sale on Amazon. Author Central offers a wide array of features, including bio, photos, links to your books on Amazon, videos, events, blog feed, and your own URL.

Bio - of at least 100 characters. Amazon does not support HTML in their author bios, so it needs to be straight text - no italics, bold, etc. You should periodically update your bio, but before you do make sure to make a copy and save it to your computer first. (Amazon will not save your old bio.)

Photo - between 300 and 8000 pixels in width and height. Only JPEG (or JPG), GIF, or PNG photos, no other formats. You can add up to eight images.

Blog - Amazon allows you to link your blog feed to Author Central. Anyone visiting your Author page will see extracts of your latest posts along with a link to read more.

Events - This is where you place all upcoming events, whether they are physical (e.g. book signings) or virtual. After you've created an event, it is displayed in the Scheduled Events section. People can see the venue, location, time, a short description of the event, and the book you're touring with.

Videos - You can share video interviews, book signing videos, and other videos with readers. Your videos should focus on specific features of your books or your experience as an author. You can add up to eight videos to your page. Videos should be a maximum of 10 minutes and in one of the following formats: avi, wmv, flv, mov, or mpg. Videos should be your own (not from Youtube).

Author Page URL - If you wish, you can create your own URL for your author page to post to your Facebook page and/or blogs, tweet to your followers, or add it to your email signature. A URL that includes your name is important for Google searches. When people search your name, they will be directed to your Amazon Author Central page.

________________

GoodReads

GoodReads is a social discovery book site with over 50 million user reviews. It is currently owned by Amazon. The site is very active, providing a venue where readers can engage freely with authors, ask questions, follow authors, sign up for giveaways. In addition to rating and reviewing books, readers can see what is on their friends' bookshelves, get recommendations, and join groups. Like all social media, GoodReads allows you to have followers. Like Amazon's Author Central, you can post an RSS feed to blog, links to your website and Twitter account.

Tips: Upload a professional photo. Make sure your face can be seen. Your photo should reflect your writing image, that is, if you write children's fiction, you should smile and look trustworthy. If you write serious literary fiction, a serious black and white photo is fine. Humor - go ahead with a quirky photo.

A solid bio consists of a paragraph or two, and should convey some interesting personal information that can’t be found elsewhere

Enable Ask the Author from your author dashboard to allow readers to contact you easily. You can’t predict when a reader might want to ask you a question, so turning this tool on gives readers the immediate ability to connect with you. Even if the person hasn’t read your book, something in your bio might spark a question.

Curate your virtual bookshelf. Readers will be curious about what kind of reader you are. Find at least 20 books to add to your bookshelf on Goodreads. You don’t need to rate them if you don’t want to. You can also create custom shelves relevant to your work, for example “Books About Maine” if your novel was set there.

________________

Librarything

Librarything is a community of 2,100,000 book lovers. Like GoodReads, Librarything a social cataloging website for storing and sharing book catalogs and various types of book metadata. It is used by readers, authors, and librarians. There are currently 17,554 authors on Librarything. An author profile is automatically created when you become an Author Member. Simply upload a photo, add links to your website, and write a short bio.


Then do the following:

Catalog your books. Your readers want to know what books they have in common with you. Rate and review books to let your fans know what you think.
Add your readings and other events to LibraryThing Local. Events will then show up on your author page as well, so your readers can learn about your public appearances.
Join the Hobnob with Authors group and discuss your work with interested members.
Sign up for one of their Author Chats. It's not "real-time", but takes place in one of Librarything's forums, the Author Chat group, over a two-week period. Members ask questions, and the author checks in about once a day and responds. Librarything promotes author chats by sending profile comments to every member who has listed one of the author's books. 
Authors can host book giveaways on Librarything for ebooks, which is enormously helpful if you are self-published and are trying to get reviews.