Free International Writing Competition – Six Word Wonder 2026
firstwriter.com – Monday July 27, 2026
Entries are now open for "Six Word Wonder 2026", an annual international writing competition celebrating the art of telling a complete story in exactly six words.
First launched in 2022, the competition is free to enter and open worldwide to anyone aged 16 or over. Writers may submit up to five original six-word stories, memoirs, poems or jokes.
New S&S UK Imprint Targets Self-Published Authors
publishersweekly.com – Saturday July 25, 2026
Simon & Schuster UK and International has launched Simon Stream, a digital-focused fiction imprint aimed at self-published authors who want to make the switch to traditional publishing. The imprint will be headed up by S&S UK publishing director Victoria Pepe.
Simon Stream will publish globally in paperback, e-book, and audiobook formats, per its website, beginning with the first installment in a new five-book “cozy crime” series by Jack Gatland, set for this fall.
The imprint hosts an open submissions portal, and is currently accepting crime, thriller, romance, historical fiction, and fantasy manuscripts of 70-100k words.
Pepe said in the announcement that Simon Stream aims to offer authors “the best parts of both [self- and traditional] publishing models,” specifically with an eye to royalty rates. Simon Stream offers 50% net royalties on e-book sales, while a typical e-book royalty rate for traditional publishers hovers around 25%. Many hybrid publishing offers also start at a 50% royalty rate.
Free Six-Week Creative Writing Course with Bestselling Author Lucy O’Callaghan at Clare Museum
clarecoco.ie – Friday July 24, 2026
Bestselling author Lucy O'Callaghan is to host a free six-week creative writing course that celebrates the power of heritage, memory and storytelling at the Clare County Council-managed Clare Museum.
Beginning during Heritage Week, on Thursday, August 20, this series of workshops will start with an exploration of the museum's collections, using the objects, stories and history they hold as a springboard for your own writing.
Heritage is more than the past - it's the memories we treasure, the traditions we inherit, the places we call home, and the stories that shape who we are.
Lucy O'Callaghan is a self-confessed people watcher; stories that happen to real people have always fascinated her and this motivated her to write contemporary women’s fiction. Her writing has been described as pacy, human, moving, and very real. Her debut novel, ‘The Lies Beneath’, was published in April 2024 and was an instant Irish Times Bestseller.
Writing 4 Novels in 10 Months with AI
oreilly.com – Thursday July 23, 2026
Using AI as a writers’ room without having it generate a word
What you’ll learn and how you can apply it
- Set up an AI-assisted research and visual-reference process before drafting begins
- Use AI as an interrogable continuity reference across a long manuscript or series
- Run AI-assisted brainstorming and chapter outlining without ceding structural decisions
- Deploy AI in four distinct editorial roles (developmental editor, writers’ room, copy editor, proofreader) at different stages of revision
- Build an AI-assisted research and continuity pipeline for a long-form creative project, from initial world-building through final proofread
AI’s taken my job
spectator.com – Wednesday July 22, 2026
This week I was replaced by AI. I saw it coming, but it didn’t make the news any easier to deal with. To be honest, it terrifies me for the future of our species. If that sounds a bit over the top, hear me out.
I am a writer. Not only that, I am a commercially successful one. Although you probably haven’t heard of me, I’ve published more than 300 short stories in women’s magazines over the past 15 years. From ghost stories in Woman’s Weekly to tales of romance in Take a Break Fiction Feast, I write them all. Sorry – wrote.
‘Dear Geoff,’ the email said. ‘Going forward, our in-house team will be using AI tools to compile future editions, but we thank you for your many contributions to the magazine over the years. Kind regards, Rebecca.’ Or to put it more bluntly: ‘We’ve replaced you with a robot.’
Festival of Fiction 2026 returns to ECU Joondalup in Tess Woods’ final year as creative director
thewest.com.au – Sunday July 19, 2026
When an Australian author of Mem Fox’s calibre not only asks to return for the third year of your literary festival, but also lobbies — albeit unsuccessfully — the State Government on her own accord for event funding, it becomes the best kind of validation Festival of Fiction creative director Tess Woods could imagine.
“Mem said it’s one of the best-run events she has ever attended,” says Woods, who herself is a local author of The Venice Hotel and upcoming new release The Cairo Bridal Shop.
“After last year’s festival, I had no less than 30 authors write to me personally afterwards to say what a wonderful festival it was and how much they enjoyed meeting readers. The lighthearted, community nature of our festival is a winner.”
In the event’s biggest year yet, Festival of Fiction 2026 will bring together more than 80 Australian authors, 10 publishing executives, and 1200 readers and writers at Edith Cowan University Joondalup across one huge weekend in November.
Writers' Handbook 2027 now available to buy
firstwriter.com – Sunday July 19, 2026
The 2027 edition of firstwriter.com’s annual directory for writers has just been released, and is now available to buy both as a paperbook and an ebook.
The directory is the perfect book for anyone searching for literary agents, book publishers, or magazines. It contains over 1,500 listings, including revised and updated listings from the 2026 edition, and over 500 brand new entries.
Holocaust scholar says publisher cancelled book after he refused demands to condemn Israel
jewishnews.co.uk – Thursday July 16, 2026
A Holocaust scholar has claimed his latest book was cancelled after he refused what he says were demands to condemn Israel before it could be published, despite the project already being ready to enter production.
Dr Rafael Medoff, founding director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies in Washington DC, said Cartoonists Against the Holocaust had been scheduled for publication by Dark Horse Comics in summer 2026.
The dispute first emerged in reporting by the New York Post, which said Medoff objected to proposed wording for the book’s introduction that referred to alleged Israeli “war crimes” and compared US immigration policies to “concentration camp-style prisons”.
Speaking to Jewish News, Medoff said the project had already reached its final stages before the disagreement.
“Dark Horse accepted Cartoonists Against the Holocaust for publication, sent me a contract, and scheduled it for release in the summer of 2026. The designer completed the layout, the book was ready to enter the production process, and then the editor suddenly began making outrageous political demands. Denouncing Israel became the prerequisite to publishing my book.”
Springer Nature launches Nature Books imprint
researchinformation.info – Thursday July 16, 2026
Springer Nature has launched Nature Books, a new imprint designed to give authors the opportunity to publish long-form work under the famous brand for the first time.
The publisher says the new imprint combines the subject expertise of in-house Nature Portfolio editors with Springer Nature’s established academic books programme, creating a publishing model intended to help authors develop, strengthen and broaden the reach of their work.
According to the publisher, Nature Books will focus on publishing titles aimed at academics, policymakers and funders, bringing together expertise, evidence and insight on some of the most significant challenges facing research and society.
Harsh Jegadeesan, Chief Publishing Officer, Springer Nature commented: “Books are an important part of the research ecosystem because they allow authors to explore complex questions with a depth and context that other formats cannot always provide. As the world’s largest academic book publisher, we’re committed to offering publishing options that support author choice and help maximise the reach and impact of their work.
Beware the latest author scam-impersonating legitimate literary agents!
penbaypilot.com – Thursday July 16, 2026
If you're an author these days, you're getting at least five emails a week from people who claim to be book club presidents, social media experts, Goodreads gurus, and more. The shadiest ones are "I like your book. Can you tell me more about it?"
It's only designed to hook you in with flattery, so they can sell services. But how do you tell who is legitimate? What if you overlook an opportunity because you're wary of the scams?
This week, I have seen this email going around where an email from rebeccalogan.editorial@aol.com purports to summarize your book with an easily recognizeable churned AI summary and then claims she wants to know about your current and future literary projects.
Now, it's getting insidious when scammers are impersonating real people or real book conferences in the guise of extracting money from you.
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