Thinking of teaming up with a friend to write a novel? See my new article, "How Do You Effectively Co-Author a Fiction Project?," which published earlier today in The Bottom Line. mailchi.mp/janefriedman...

Scribner Books is hosting this year's BOOKS LIKE US First Novel Contest. Sub the first 25 pages of your original adult novel starting July 8. Contest closes when 500 eligible submissions are received or on 7/14, whichever comes first. No purch nesc. U.S. only. 18+. Details: https://bit.ly/4vanW6c

Now that summer has (unofficially) begun, I’ve updated my list of writing events to attend in 2026 with 35 (!) new entries, including conferences on both coasts and in several locations in between. Virtual writing events are listed as well. www.mehtabookeditingnewyork.com/writing/2025...

At last, I’m sharing my article “Should Unpublished Writers Enter Writing Contests?” which published earlier this year in The Bottom Line and for which I interviewed two agents, an editor, and Writer Beware’s Victoria Strauss. mailchi.mp/janefriedman...

I've updated my list of "24 Independent & University Press Contests For Fiction Writers That Offer Book Publication as the Prize" for 2026, and it now includes 26 publishers. Note that two contests have Jan 31 deadlines but there's still time to apply! www.mehtabookeditingnewyork.com/writing/inde...

Hope you enjoy my latest article for The Bottom Line, "University Presses: A Viable Path for Literary Fiction Careers," for which I interviewed two literary agents and three acquiring editors: mailchi.mp/janefriedman...

Should you pitch your work as “women’s fiction” if you’re seeking traditional publication? I interviewed literary agents including @ecniumata.bsky.social and @jsinsheim.bsky.social to explore this question for @janefriedman.com's The Bottom Line newsletter mailchi.mp/janefriedman...

So enjoyed being a guest on on the wonderful Book Friends Forever podcast with long time colleagues (and book friends) Alvina, Grace & Julie. Have a listen!

I’ll be talking about Building Your Editing Toolkit on February 25 at the Writing Show, hosted by James Rivers Writers. Join me! Learn more and register here: jamesriverwriters.org/event/2025-f...

I've updated this list and hope it's helpful!

I've updated this lis and hope it's helpful! www.mehtabookeditingnewyork.com/writing/inde...

For my latest article for @thehotsheet.bsky.social, I spoke with independent book publicists including @kathmschmidt.bsky.social about how they navigate today’s fractured media landscape and how writers can collaborate to help them achieve results mailchi.mp/hotsheetpub/...

I have overhauled my cornerstone article/handout on key book publishing paths. For the last 10 years, it's been 1 page. Now it's 2 pages. It better covers the finer distinctions writers now encounter in the market. Free to use/share/distribute, no permission required. Link below.

For my website, I've come up with a list of podcasts about the book industry. What podcasts should be added to this list? Happy listening and Happy Thanksgiving! www.mehtabookeditingnewyork.com/writing/2024...

Hope you enjoy my latest article for Jane Friedman's The Hot Sheet, for which I interviewed agents and publishers including @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social and @stacylwhitman.bsky.social about "The Who, What, and Why of Sensitivity Reads." t.co/Ew5y6tT2Ep

I'm delighted to share my Q&A with author Cliff Burke. Cliff and I worked together back in 2018. Since then he landed an agent and two book deals without "any connections or real understanding of how the agenting process worked." Learn more here: www.mehtabookeditingnewyork.com/writing/2024...

Save the Date! Our IG live with Third State Books is Thursday, 1/11/24, 2 pm ET! Third State Books is the first general interest publishing house focused solely on bringing Asian American voices, stories, and issues to audiences who cherish them. #ReadYourWorld #kidlit #mkbkids

Just one more week until this query webinar, which benefits some friends and family who could use the help. Come hangout! www.ericsmithrocks.com/blog/2023/1/...

Excited to share my latest critique for @janefriedman.bsky.social's "Ask the Editor" column. The writer asks "whether to present this as literary fiction with magical realism or magical realism with a literary bent." See my assessment below. Anything to add? janefriedman.com/first-page-c...

We vehemently denounce censorship and are alarmed by recent attempts to cancel events and suppress voices. authorsguild.org/news/we-need...

SFF friends, this looks seriously amazing! A free series of talks on various aspects of writing SFF, brought to you by Orbit. www.hachettebookgroup.com/orbit-books/...

Hi, I’m a freelance book critic and I know for sure that the more info we share with each other, the better! Help the Freelance Solidarity Project to better understand rates of pay for book criticism. If you're a freelancer who covers books, click here: bit.ly/pay-the-crit...

If you've encountered the Litchfield Institute writing contest & are tempted by the huge prizes & small entry fee, writer beware: un-named judges & faculty, no verifiable info on the Institute itself, & a web domain just 9 days old. Pretty shady IMO www.lichfieldinst.org

BIPOC writers of adult fiction: If you're unpublished, see these links: Hub City submissions (deadline 9/30) hubcity.submittable.com/submit S&S First Novel Contest (10/13) www.simonandschuster.com/p/atria-firs... Periplus Fellowship (Fiction & NF) (10/27) docs.google.com/document/d/1...