Finding New Fiction Markets
How Writers can Search for Emerging Markets and Literary Agents
Without spending any money, markets for aspiring writers are available for the taking simply by visiting your local bookstore.
No matter what you write, you can find new markets without spending money by simply visiting your local bookstore. Today's writing market is changing on a weekly (if not daily) basis, and books are generally published on a yearly basis. By the time a new edition is ready, some of the markets contained within could already be redundant.
Literary magazines publish on a monthly basis with ads aimed at writers varying from writing school MFA programs to publisher listings of the newest books available. Some also include editing help and calls for entries into contests with large cash prizes. These contests are typically sponsored by fiction magazines, and are an excellent way for writers to "break in" to a magazine that may receive thousands of submissions on a monthly basis.
In the classifieds section, there will also be advertisements from new magazines and Webzines looking for a variety of writing, be it fiction, non-fiction or poetry. There will also be established magazines calling for new fiction. They wouldn't be advertising if they had an ample supply of good writing to fill their pages!
The classified sections of these magazines can also provide writers with a number of interesting freelance services. While browsing through just one issue of Writer's Digest, you might find a company looking for writers to contribute greeting card ideas or help with a variety of writing services for an Internet start-up.
The classifieds also post requests from agents and publishers who are seeking new representation. Take special note of these, because--just like the magazines--they're advertising because they're specifically looking for new writers to work with.These magazines make their money through advertising; tucked between arger ads for college MFA programs might be an invitation for writers to compete in a fiction contest. Every ad is geared specifically toward writers.
Now you know where to look. What do you do next? Take out a pen and write down the markets you find interesting and look them up online. Most new markets today offer email submissions, making it even easier to submit your work.
