Member Mark Golden was in contact with Sharma Shields at the Spokane Downtown Library to ask about resources for writers. Sharma kindly shared a list she has been building of organizations and other resources available in the Spokane area. And now we are sharing that list with you. Thanks, Mark! (and Sharma!)
Resources for Creative Writers
Compiled by Sharma Shields, Spokane Public Library’s Writing Education Specialist
Need some help with your writing project or career? Here are various organizations and contacts to assist you in your writing goals. Please note that Spokane Public Library is happy to provide these resources but is not responsible for the content or quality of any of these organizations or contacts mentioned.
Sharma Shields is a local novelist and the Writing Education Specialist here at Spokane Public Library. Learn more about the library’s writing resources and how to contact Sharma here: http://www.spokanelibrary.org/writing-resources. She has a Bookings calendar and regular generative “Write Together” events that you can find on the Spokane Public Library events calendar.
General Writing Support
The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI): https://www.scbwi.org/
Spokane Chapter, SCBWI: https://www.scbwi.org/regions/inlandnw
We Need Diverse Books: We Need Diverse Books – diversebooks.org
Mystery Writers of America: http://mysterywriters.org/
Crime Writers of Color: http://www.crimewritersofcolor.com
Romance Junkies: https://romancejunkies.com/
Romance Writers of America: https://www.rwa.org/
New Play Exchange for Scripts/Playwriting: https://newplayexchange.org/
Poets & Writers: https://www.pw.org/
Reedsy: Find the perfect editor, designer or marketer | Reedsy
New Pages: https://www.newpages.com/
Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, offers year-round support for writers): Welcome | NaNoWriMo
The Writing Loft (run by local editor and writing educator Nora Profit):
https://www.thewritingloft.com/
Spark Central has great generative writing groups including Drop In and Write and Poetry Before Dark. Find the schedule on their website, https://spark-central.org/
Connect with local National Novel Writing Month participants! https://nanowrimo.org/regions/usa-washington-spokane.
Sign up for NaNoWriMo here: Welcome | NaNoWriMo
For playwrights, check out the Civic Theater for all ages/writing/theatre arts, https://spokanecivictheatre.com/
Check out the SWANS, Spokane Writers and Novelists, who meet regularly to write together. https://spokanewriters.org/
For Self-Publishing and More:
Keely Honeywell (an amazing local book designer): keelyhoney@gmail.com
Lilac City Literary (for editing, ghost-writing, and creative writing consulting),
jenny888davis@gmail.com or lilaccityliterary@gmail.com , http://www.lilaccityliterary.com
Minuteman Press (printer): bookswa234@minutemanpress.com, https://minuteman.com/us/locations/wa/spokane/
Gray Dog Press here in Spokane (for book design and consulting): http://graydogpress.com/blog/
Chapterly (for writing, editing, collaborating—find readers!—design, publishing) Chapterly – Where your story is written.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (for design/distribution/retail): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/
Ingram Spark (for design/distribution/retail): https://www.ingramspark.com/
Lulu (for design/distribution/retail): https://www.lulu.com/
Canva (for design): https://www.canva.com
Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers: http://www.spokaneauthors.org
Inland Northwest Writer’s Guild: https://inwg-guild.com
The Writing Loft (run by local editor and writing educator Nora Profit): https://www.thewritingloft.com/
Here is a great article on self-publishing by Travis Baldree, who self-published his first book and went on to become a NY Times Bestselling writer: Self Published Book Launch A-Z. I recently released Legends & Lattes… | by Travis Baldree | Medium
Ghost-writers to hire for Memoir and More
Want to tell your story but need help in the writing of it? Here are people who live locally or farther afield who can help with your projects:
Ellen Adams http://www.ellenadams.net
Pia Hallenburg https://piahallenberg.com/
Kelly Flannery with Words that Stick https://www.wordsthatstickllc.com/
Stephanie Han (based in Hawai’i) Dr. Stephanie Han – Empowering Women Through Narrative (drstephaniehan.com)
Resources for Writers of Fan Fiction
AO3 https://archiveofourown.org
Wattpad http://www.wattpad.com
If you have a self-published book, you can check with Auntie’s Bookstore to see if they can carry your book on consignment (bring a book, drop in, and ask). Local indie bookstores are amazing at supporting local writers. Always remain polite and understanding if they can’t carry your book for whatever reason.
Apply online to have your books carried in From Here Spokane: http://www.fromherespokane.com
Venues that publish short stories, poems, and essays by writers at all stages of their careers:
Most venues use Submittable to handle submissions, and you can sign up for a free account here—it can be fun to search the database and see which online and print venues are looking for work: https://manager.submittable.com/signup
Sonora Review, https://sonorareview.com/
Cutbank, http://www.cutbankonline.org/
Fugue, http://www.fuguejournal.com/
Hobart, https://www.hobartpulp.com/
Iowa Review, https://iowareview.org/content/writers-guidelines
Willow Springs, http://willowspringsmagazine.org/submit/
Boulevard Magazine, https://boulevardmagazine.org/guidelines
SmokeLong, http://www.smokelong.com/submissions/guidelines/
Slice, https://slicemagazine.org/submit/
Fairy Tale Review: https://www.fairytalereview.com/
Moss Literary: https://mosslit.com/
For local comics! Spokane Sequential: https://spokanesequential.neocities.org/submissions
A huge list of various publishers for short works here (all genres), “128 Active Publications that Pay for Short Stories”: https://writingcooperative.com/128-active-publications-that-pay-for-short-stories-in-2021-894b6257810a
Crime Fiction:
https://internationalwriterscollective.com/where-to-submit-mystery-thriller-and-crime-stories/
Romance:
Harlequin: https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
Science Fiction/Fantasy:
Strange Horizons: http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/
Apex Magazine: https://apex-magazine.com/submission-guidelines/
Fantasy and Science Fiction: https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/glines.htm
For flash work (very short fiction):
Vestal Review: http://www.vestalreview.org/guidelines/
Flash Fiction online: http://flashfictiononline.com/main/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction
Brilliant Flash Fiction: https://brilliantflashfiction.com/
Here’s a whole host of places to submit very short stories too, gathered together in one article: https://internationalwriterscollective.com/great-places-to-submit-flash-fiction/
Some of the writing resources above (ie New Pages and Poets & Writers and more) are searchable databases that can connect you to venues that publish a wide variety of creative writing.
Take an online or in-person writing class or workshop or find/apply for grants and other opportunities:
Catapult, https://catapult.co/
Fishtrap FISHTRAP | Writing and the West
Sackett Street Writers, http://www.sackettworkshop.com/writing/
One Story: https://www.one-story.com/
GrubStreet: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/#/online
Gotham: https://www.writingclasses.com/
Hugo House: https://hugohouse.org/
Write Academy: https://www.writeacademy.com/
Artist Trust: https://artisttrust.org/
Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association: https://www.pnwa.org/
Here in Spokane:
Spokane Public Library: https://www.spokanelibrary.org/
Spokane County Library District: https://www.scld.org/
SCC’s Act 2 Program offers writing courses: https://www.campusce.net/spokaneactii/course/course.aspx?catId=157
Spark Central: https://spark-central.org/
Spokane Arts: https://spokanearts.org/
The Center for Children’s Book Arts http://www.theccba.org
Terrain: https://www.terrainspokane.com/
FREE WRITING CLASSES AND EDITING ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR SPOKANE PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD (If you live outside of Spokane city limits, check with your local library to see if they also use these online resources):
Sign up at http://www.spokanelibrary.org
LinkedIn Learning: Learn how to become an exceptional writer, author, and storyteller through LinkedIn Learning courses. Get started for free with your library card.
Brainfuse HelpNow Writing Lab: Get expert writing assistance and feedback on your writing online through Brainfuse. Upload your document, provide the details of your assignment or manuscript, and receive your analysis usually within one business day.
Attend a Local Writing Conference, Retreat, Event, and/or Festival:
Networking galore!
Spokane Writers Conference (Spokane County Library District): Spokane Writers Conference Has Creative, Informative Sessions with In-Person & Online Options – Spokane County Library District (scld.org)
Get Lit! Festival and Programs: https://inside.ewu.edu/getlit/
Inland NW Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators: https://inlandnw.scbwi.org/
Spokane’s Foray for the Arts, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555982110977
Fishtrap: https://fishtrap.org/
Centrum: https://centrum.org/the-port-townsend-writers-conferece/
Chuckanut Writers Conference: https://www.whatcom.edu/academics/community-continuing-education/chuckanut-writers-conference
Hedgebrook: Women Authoring Change: https://www.hedgebrook.org/
LiTFUSE: Poet’s Unite: https://litfuse.us/
Emerald City Romance Writers Conference: https://www.emeraldcityromancewriters.org/
Clarion West Science Fiction Conference: https://www.clarionwest.org/
Write on the Sound: https://www.writeonthesound.com/
How to Write Query Letters for Agents:
How to Write a Query Letter: 3 Paragraphs That Hook a Literary Agent, https://thewritepractice.com/how-to-write-a-query-letter/
How to Write a Query Letter: All the Do’s and Don’t’s, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-query-letter
The Complete Guide to Query Letters: https://janefriedman.com/query-letters/
Editors/Writing Coaches you can hire:
Word Jones: hello@wordjones.com; https://wordjones.com/
Robin Connelly with Saved by the Quill, (509) 608-0612; savedbythequill@gmail.com, https://savedbythequill.wordpress.com/ (especially enjoys editing fantasy and historical fiction)
Kelly Flannery with Words that Stick https://www.wordsthatstickllc.com/
Caroline Allen: https://carolineallen.com/?fbclid=IwAR3gCq-YXBsPRJc0FXhg2I4khqx-n1r3f3qgU1p9HT6g4to8T6klkqMEGNY
Michelle Wildgen: https://www.michellewildgen.com/?fbclid=IwAR1wFf96V2I8xS5lzJt4MWTatSp3yx5kKkR6N-CqYAChRk0OJQJzPOwoWZI
Lauren Chasen: https://www.laurachasen.com/?fbclid=IwAR0LdXX3f_Ly10S_4Mn4FR85wknkKtynOd54B0Wm4rp4fPRHrKaLbaeGpzM
Rayhané Sanders: https://www.rayhanesanders.com/editorial-services
Anca L. Szilágyi: https://hugohouse.org/product/anca-szilagyi/?fbclid=IwAR3NggIXGob0Airl1yqCe6Y1au778Ii3dZY6lKYNJRCzgQd5tzo4QSc4WSo
Jordan Rosenfeld: https://jordanrosenfeld.net/?fbclid=IwAR3AKMEg7sL53XHdQXBIH5qaxzfI4arA3a_tSXhXr1mboqvnvc6I1Sl5Zxc
Mackenzie Kiera: https://www.mackenziekieraedits.com/?fbclid=IwAR0UquYN7rEeOckn_Je1aKlhKu1Teq1oqroS7j07v-9SJNkW8p6c0bUEpMo
Jessica Easto: https://www.jessicaeasto.com/?fbclid=IwAR37Z7NImNwMjdqBw4bpwMCOcl65FWMRLOJGmkxI34NTSuj9mCwuGfjVxpo
Caroline Allen: https://carolineallen.com/?fbclid=IwAR3gCq-YXBsPRJc0FXhg2I4khqx-n1r3f3qgU1p9HT6g4to8T6klkqMEGNY
Find an Agent:
Agent Query: https://agentquery.com/
Poets & Writers Literary Agent Database: https://www.pw.org/literary_agents
Manuscript Wishlist: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/
Manuals for Book Writing/Publicizing:
Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, and Promoting Your
First Book by Courtney Maum: Availabilities: Before and after the book deal : (spokanelibrary.org)
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need by Jessica Brody: Availabilities: Save the cat! writes a novel : (spokanelibrary.org)
The Secret Miracle: The Novelist’s Handbook, Edited by Daniel Alarcón: Availabilities: The secret miracle : (spokanelibrary.org)
Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell: Availabilities: Refuse to be done : (spokanelibrary.org)
Steering the Craft: A 21st-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story by Ursula K. Le Guin: Availabilities: Steering the craft : (spokanelibrary.org)
Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping by Matthew Salesses: Availabilities: Craft in the real world : (spokanelibrary.org)
The Poets & Writers Complete Guide to Being a Writer: Everything You Need to Know about Craft, Inspiration, Agents, Editors, Publishing, and the Business of Building a Sustainable Writing Career by Kevin Larimer and Mary Gannon Availabilities: The poets & writers complete guide to being a writer : (spokanelibrary.org)
And here, too, is an article by Courtney Maum on how to get your book reviewed once it’s been published: https://courtneymaum.substack.com/p/how-to-get-your-book-reviewed
Inland Northwest Writers Guild 