The Writer's Workout

Be a better writer.

The Writer's Workout is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers.

Hey there!

Welcome to The Writer's Workout. Whether you're new to the craft, coming back after time away, or a seasoned professional, we can help you be a better writer.

2025 stats & Giving Tuesday email

Find the full calendar here.

The wildness continues at the WW. Our plans for 2026 are so big and full and exciting that I couldn't fit them all into the January mailer. Instead, they're HERE (with a calendar inside!).

Meanwhile... we have openings for Spring and Summer Internship programs, plus poetry and fiction readers and poetry editors for WayWords, a Social Media Manager, and other staff roles. Learn about these positions here.

OPEN CALLS:

Head's up, we changed our submissions guidelines!

Fiction Potluck is OPEN for "endings with a twist"

Read more about this quarter's guest judge, David Klotzkin, and check out his advice.

Closing February 15

See the finalists on March 7.

Join us for Fiction Potluck Friday on March 20.

WayWords is OPEN for "habits"

Closing February 20

Issue 21 is in review. Our reading team and editors are reviewing all submissions. We'll be in touch in early January.

Issue 20, Messy, is published in digital and print!

Coming soon:

FEST RETURNS! We're working on another amazing FEST for 2026 with Events during the week and judging on the weekends. Registration opens March 1 with the first of three Events starting March 30.

Want to be a judge? Apply for our Spring Internship or contact me.

Writer's Games registration will open in MAY 2026 with Events in June and July.

Check the overall and Event winners on the Games and Archive pages. The 2025 anthology, vol. 13 of 72 Hours, is published in digital and print!

Tales will return with a new theme on March 1.

Tales from the Unknown is NOW AVAILABLE in digital and print!

Check the Tales page for cover, Pushcart Nominees, and links.

We hit NUMBER ONE in New Releases for the second year in a row!

Around WW:

Our focal topic in January discusses the types and methods of editing: how it helps, why it's necessary, and finding your footing. Ketevan shares a personal experience we've all had on January 1.

Neurodivergent writers might find clarity (and tips!!) in Karen's Craft & Chaos series, available in the resources tab.

Welcome back, Indie Author Spotlight! Contact us to be featured.

Join us on Discord for write-ins, chats, and fun times.

Info on the free 2026 conference is coming in early November. We have a PACKED WEEK of awesomeness for you, March 23-29. EEK!!

All the 2024 and 2025 videos are still available through linked playlists.

Find quick access to announcements from any page through the pinned note at the top.

Happy writing!

—Theresa

On the Blog:

Creating a Writing Routine

The advice on writing routines is endless and contradictory. Many aspiring novelists will be familiar with the idea that you must write every single day, preferably at the same time of day, and hit the same word count. Spend some time digging for it and you will surely find the opposite advice too—don’t force yourself to write when you don’t feel like it because if you don’t like doing it, you won’t do it at all. Contradictory advice becomes frustrating when you feel like yo

Catherine Schoenfeld

Find us on...

and Goodreads.

Recent Releases:

Tales from the Unknown

issue 20

vol 13

Learn more about our publications here.

Looking for the 2024 March Conference videos?

Find all the videos and presenter information on the conference page. Handouts are still available.

Back to Basics

In the latest Back to Basics course, Izhan explains the major benefits of accountability partners, where to find them, and how to make your writing life even more rewarding.

Back to Basics is a free mini-course open worldwide. Join us on Discord or use #WWB2B on social media.