Hey there!
This month, we discuss the separation between the art vs the artist and learn about the connected nature of what we do.
Read more on our blog, May 4.
We're excited to be recommended by Reedsy for the second year in a row for running one of the best writing contests.
This award recognizes Fiction Potluck!
Check it out quarterly in
January, April, July, and October.
WayWords issue 10 is now available in print and ebook! Check the WayWords page for links and to see who's featured in this issue.
General Updates:
We are growing!
To help support our community expansion, I'm currently working on a full redesign of this website (all gazillion pages). Some pages are updated, others only look like they are but aren't. This update includes visual changes, reorganization, and lots of content updates, plus a fresh redesign for our monthly newsletter.
Check here for a log to keep up with my progress!
If you have any suggestions for features you'd like to see, please reach out.
Writer's Games—we announced at the end of last year that we're taking a break from this competition and the internship program for the 2023 calendar year.
If you earned guaranteed registration (winning, deferment, waiting list) in 2022, we are saving your space for 2024. The Writer's Games pages are NOT UPDATED to reflect this yet.
Fiction Potluck—we launched a new competition! Potluck is quarterly, free, and open to writers around the world. A guest judge sets the challenge and the WW team selects finalists from the entries. We'll feature these finalists on the Fiction Potluck page while the guest judge chooses the top three winners. Each of the top three pieces will be published on our blog.
We reached out to finalists on May 25.
Fiction Potluck returns in July.
Tales—redesign is complete for this section and just in time: the 2023 Tales theme has arrived and it's a bit strange... Tales is OPEN
WayWords—redesign is complete for this section too! Issue 11 is CLOSED
Read our interview on Six Questions For...!
Discord—we launched a Discord server with tons of difference channels to chat with your fellow writers. We'll host a dedicated Write Chat on the second Saturday of every month, starting at 7pm (UTC). Spread the word!
If the Discord link is broken, contact us for a personalized invite.
Looking for announcements? Check the pinned note up top for all the latest news.
Happy writing!
—Theresa
Fiction Potluck
Our brand new competition, Fiction Potluck, will feature a guest judge for each quarterly challenge. Why a potluck? We never know what writers will bring in the beginning but we're excited to share the top three pieces with everyone at the end!
Check out our first guest judge, S.E. Reed. We're ecstatic to work with such a talented author and amazing person. We can't wait to see what you bring for this first challenge! Learn more about the finalists at the end of May and read the winning pieces in June.
This competition will return in July with a new guest judge and challenge.
Fiction Potluck is recommended by Reedsy as a Best Contest of 2023!
A note from our director
Hello fellow creative,
This community is wonderfully diverse and I'm so honored to volunteer my time here. Our team is truly amazing; we put you, the writer, first and foremost in everything we do. We're here to help you succeed!
Your support means the world to us. You're the reason we exist! Your donation funds tools, competitions, and other opportunities for writers around the world. Visit our Donations page to learn more.
Love and words,
Theresa
Affiliates
We love hearing about great products and services to recommend to our fellow writers. If you think your company or service is a good fit for The Writer's Workout, contact us!
The Writer's Workout is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Tales of the Strange
This anthology asks you to explore the beautifully weird, the slightly off, and the unusual. Break free from the norm to investigate the strange!
This anthology is edited by Theresa Green (it's me, hi!).
Theresa is looking for well-developed concepts, inviting storytelling, clear description, and an occasional laugh to break the tension. Genre is yours to play with*. Pieces will be reviewed and writers contacted on a rolling basis during the call.
Theresa is a freelance developmental editor at Premier Literary Services.
Tales of the Strange is open to writers around the world through September 17.
Please check our Tales page for submissions information. #NoFee
*Genre restrictions: The Writer's Workout will reject all religious, political, or erotic content.
Back to Basics
Check out the latest Back to Basics course!
Izhan shares the highlights (and pitfalls) of prologues to help you decide if it's right for your story.
Try the challenge send in your scene for feedback!
Check out the Back to Basics page for past courses.
Join us in the forum or on Twitter using #WWB2B.
Our Pandemic
This anthology is available in digital and print! Pick up your copy today to help support Direct Relief and read these amazing tales of life during lockdown.
Visit the Our Pandemic page.
Proceeds from the sale of Our Pandemic are donated to Direct Relief, an organization providing medical supplies and services around the world. Please check out their amazing organization to learn more.
The Writer's Workout is not affiliated with Direct Relief.
Write for us! Send blog post pitches here.
We have open positions! Check our Volunteer page for details.
Find us on...
and Goodreads.