# Almond Press > Resources and opportunities for writers ## Posts - [The Best Books on Writing: Essential Guides for Creative Writers](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/best-books-about-creative-writing-and-publishing/): Discover the best books for writers to improve your writing skills, get expert guidance, and find inspiration for novels, memoirs, short stories, and poetry. - [Poetry Competitions](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/poetry-competitions/): Our poetry competition directory includes opportunities for poets at every stage of their writing journey. You’ll find contests for emerging poets, themed poetry awards, and prestigious prizes judged by established poets and editors. - [How to Monetize Your Writing Talent (Plus 8 Writing Jobs That Pay Top Dollar)](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/how-monetize-your-writing-talent-high-paying-writing-jobs/): Learn how to monetize your writing and break into 8 in-demand jobs that pay you what you’re worth! - [The 6 Stages of the Book Publishing Process: A Guide for Authors](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/six-stages-publishing-your-book/): This guide breaks down the key stages of the traditional book publishing process so you’ll be better prepared to make informed decisions, set realistic expectations, and ultimately increase your chances of publishing success. - [How to Win a Short Story Contest: Advice from a Judge](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/how-to-win-a-short-story-contest-advice-from-judge/): Want to win a short story contest? Get insider tips from a Reedsy Prompts judge on how to craft compelling characters, grab attention from the first line, and leave a lasting impression. - [Best Creative Writing Courses and Learning Platforms](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/best-online-creative-writing-courses-and-learning-platforms/): Explore our guide to the exciting world of online creative writing education, listing the best courses and learning platforms available today. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned wordsmith, you'll discover how these digital resources can transform your writing journey. - [Best Dietary Supplements for Writers](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/best-dietary-supplements-for-writers/): In this guide, we explore some of the best supplements you need to give your body and brain a little extra boost. These supplements can help to enhance your focus, creativity, and overall well-being as a writer. Keep reading to discover how to take your writing to the next level. - [What is Writer's Block?](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/what-is-writers-block/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Do you struggle to start a project or can’t express your thoughts effectively on a page or screen? If the answer is yes, then you are not alone. This experience is familiar to even the most accomplished authors and seasoned writers. Luckily, a few tips can help you overcome this obstacle and start writing again.  This article answers your questions about writer’s block and provides practical tips to overcome it and get back on track with your writing. So whether you’re a new writer or an experienced writer, read on for insights that will help you regain your creative flow.… - [The Best Apps for Creative Writing](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/best-apps-for-creative-writing/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Which apps are best for creative writing? Writing is an essential skill, but it can be tough. When it comes to creative writing, there are many tools and apps available today that can help you create compelling content and improve your writing. But what’s really out there and which is the best for you? We’ve put together a list of some of the most popular apps for creative writers. From outlining to editing and everything in between, these apps can help you improve your writing skills, make your work process a lot more efficient, and transform you into a… - [Simple Tips For Writing A Great Short Story](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/simple-tips-for-writing-a-great-short-story/): A well-written short story can pack a punch. In a short amount of time, a writer can create a relatable character, a unique setting, and an intriguing plot. Writers can practice all types of genres from dystopias to romance and more. But as anyone who’s attempted to write a short story without success can attest, crafting a great short story isn’t easy. There’s a reason that short stories are often taught as an after-thought, not a core part of a writer’s curriculum. And yet, a well-written short story can make a powerful impact on a reader. So how do you write… - [Should I Pay to Enter a Writing Competition?](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/why-pay-to-enter-writing-competition/): What is a writing competition?  A writing competition (or contest) is an event that you enter with a piece of your own writing. The prize is usually money,  but sometimes it is just the pride of being chosen as winner. The winning piece will usually get published somewhere. Sometimes there’s an entry fee, and sometimes the competition is directed towards something – some publishers or magazines run competitions for the first chapter of a story, or a book proposal. However, there are a very wide variety of competitions – from poetry inspired by Shakespeare, to themed short stories, to flash fiction,… - [How to Write the Book Introduction to Hook Your Reader](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/write-book-introduction-hook-reader/): When people are looking for new books to explore, there are three elements that get their attention: The cover The text at the back of the cover The introduction You’ll think about the first two elements after you write the book. The introduction, however, has no time to wait. All great books start with greatness. Do you remember the first sentence of Anna Karenina? “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” After reading that first sentence and the entire introduction, you just know that something extraordinary will follow. You know it’s more than just… - [How to Write: Self-Publishing Your Work Online](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/how-to-write-self-publishing-online/): You’ve written a book, and it’s the best thing ever! So, now you want people to read it. How do you get it to them? In our current publishing world, there’s three major options. You can contact a traditional big publisher, who – if everything goes well – will buy the rights to your book, edit it, put a cover on it, market it and send you money when it sells. You can contact a smaller independent (indie) press, who have the flexibility to take chances on unusual work, and who are more likely to involve you in the details of… - [How to Write: Self-Publishing](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/how-to-write-self-publishing/): What is Self-Publishing? You’ve written a book, and it’s the best thing ever! So, now you want people to read it. How do you get it to them? In our current publishing world, there’s three major options. You can contact a traditional big publisher, who – if everything goes well – will buy the rights to your book, edit it, put a cover on it, market it and send you money when it sells. You can contact a smaller independent (indie) press, who have the flexibility to take chances on unusual work, and who are more likely to involve you in… - [How to Write: Character Agency](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/how-to-write-character-agency/): Character agency is basically about giving your characters choices. It’s also tied in to the idea of making relatable, rounded characters – so characters with aims and flaws, who make good and bad decisions. Character agency is the decision-making bit of that; it’s letting the characters drive the events in your stories. Character agency is about how the characters accomplish the plot Ok, so you’ve got your basic plot. Hero rescues Princess from Dragon. Simple, right? But if you pick three different characters, they’ll go about that in three different ways, and you’d end up with three different outcomes. The Dark… - [How to Write: Time & Motivation](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/how-to-write-time-and-motivation/): There’s two hard parts of being a writer…sitting down to write, and actually writing! How do you find time to ensure that you write? And how do you make sure you use that time effectively? When do you work best? For me, it’s mornings and evenings, with a slump in the afternoon. I know that if I schedule writing time in for an afternoon I’ll most likely end up on Facebook…so I’m much better off accepting that my brain wants an afternoon nap (even if it can’t have one) and scheduling writing time in for a morning or evening when I’m… - [How To Write: Characters](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/how-to-write-characters/): I was asked recently how to make characters more individual; how to make them unique, colourful and distinctive. How do you get the different quirks of humans into a piece of writing? Major characters Sometimes it feels as if you could have robots as your main characters and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference. They all speak and act in the same way, and you could replace them without anyone batting an eyelid. How can you make them individual? List six character traits for each of your major characters, and use these when you’re writing. How would these traits affect… - [How to Write: Plot](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/write-plot-critical/): Ever read a book where you. Just. Don’t. Care? There’s danger…and ooh, the hero saved the day. Big surprise! You guessed that from the start. So here’s some ideas to make your plot a cliff-hanger and drama-filled rollercoaster… 1. Two bad choices Give your protagonist a choice…but make both of the options bad. Save the boyfriend, or the world? Rob the bank to get the ransom money, or let the hostages die? Walk away and live with regret, or stay and die? Even small choices can matter, as long as it adds an extra notch to the problems. 2. A real… - [How to Write: Editing Someone Else's Work](https://dystopianstories.com/how-to-write-editing-someone-elses-work/): If you write (or if you enjoy reading!), you might be asked at some point to look over someone else’s work. You might be asked what you think of it, and – if it’s unpublished – to give some feedback. This is usually known as alpha or beta reading, or critique. So if you’ve agreed to read someone else’s work – whether a short story, a section, a chapter or a full novel – what should you be thinking about? There are three main parts; expectations, critique, and feedback. Check the author’s expectations First thing – before you even look at… - [How to Write: Query and Cover Letters](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/write-query-cover-letters/): Cover letters are usually sent with submissions, either to publishers or agents. They’re intended to say something about the item you’re submitting and about you as a writer and person. However, for something that sounds simple, they can be surprisingly annoying to get right. Here’s some advice from Joanne Hall, who is submissions editor for Grimbold Books and sees a lot of cover letters. Take it away, Jo! First of all, I should say that there’s a difference between the standard “cover letter” (UK format), and the US-standard “query letter” (examples and advice behind the link). The US letter usually asks for more… - [How To Write: The First Five Chapters](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/write-first-five-chapters/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]When you send a submission, different publishers ask for different things. However, it will usually be at least the first 10,000 words, which should be your first 3-5 chapters. This is what the editor will read and what they will use to decide if your book is any good, and then decide if they want to read the rest of it. And it’s not just the editor; later on, the reader will do exactly the same thing. Ever flicked through the first chapter in a bookshop or read it on Amazon? What made you want to continue and buy the… ## Pages - [Poetry Competitions](https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/poetry/): [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Whether you’re crafting sonnets, experimenting with haiku, or exploring free verse, poetry competitions offer poets the chance to share their work, gain recognition, and connect with the literary community. Our curated list features poetry contests throughout the year, from international competitions with substantial prizes to niche contests celebrating specific forms and themes. Our poetry competition directory includes opportunities for poets at every stage of their writing journey. You’ll find contests specifically for emerging poets, student competitions, themed poetry awards, and prestigious prizes judged by established poets and editors. Many competitions offer not just monetary prizes but also publication opportunities,… - [Perspectives and Insights](https://dystopianstories.com/articles/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Explore our expert articles, perspectives, and insights about the creative writing and publishing process. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] - [Thank you for your donation!](https://dystopianstories.com/thank-you/): [vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1744385750883{padding-top: 60px !important;padding-bottom: 60px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Thank you for your generous donation!   This will help us maintain and develop our resources for writers. We appreciate your support!   If there is ever anything we can do for you, please let us know by filling in our contact form. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] - [Frequently Asked Questions about Writing Competitions (FAQ)](https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/frequently-asked-questions-faq/): [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The purpose of this FAQ is to provide a basic overview of key facts and concepts on the topic of writing competitions (also known and writing contests). Where revelant, we include links to other helpful resources and articles where you can learn more about each topic. This list is not comprehensive in nature, and we encourage you to do your own research using other sources of information. Please contact us if you feel anything here is innacurate or if you’d like to contribute your own knowledge to help expand this resource.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator css=””][vc_toggle title=”What is a writing competition?” style=”round_outline” open=”true” custom_google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”… - [Events](https://dystopianstories.com/events/) - [Writing Competitions in 2026 and 2027 - Weekly Updates](https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/): [vc_section disable_element=”yes” content_placement=”top” el_class=”headerimage”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image source=”featured_image” img_size=”full” style=”vc_box_rounded” alignment=”center” image_hovers=”false”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1785078650001{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”] Writing competitions are a great way to practice your writing skills with an opportunity to get feedback and recognition for your work, win prizes, and see your writing published either online or in print. Our curated list of competitions has information about upcoming writing events for both established and aspiring writers. Each event listing includes a detailed description with information about entry fees, max word limit, submission deadlines, and prizes for the winners and shortlisted authors. The list features different competition categories, for example: short stories and flash fiction poetry novels and novellas essay and non-fiction competitions for… - [Advertising and Partnerships](https://dystopianstories.com/advertising-and-promotion/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Advertise with us Reach a highly targeted community of writers, aspiring authors, and storytelling enthusiasts through Almond Press. Almond Press connects with thousands of writers every month through our website, newsletter, and social media channels. Our audience is actively interested in writing opportunities, publishing resources, creative tools, and services that support their writing journey. Our platforms include: dystopianstories.com — an established resource for writing competitions, submission opportunities, and creative writing resources Writing Deadlines newsletter — a dedicated newsletter reaching thousands of writers interested in competitions and opportunities Writing Competitions community — an active social media community of writers and… - [Terms and Conditions](https://dystopianstories.com/terms-and-conditions/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The Terms and Conditions were last updated on February 14, 2025 1. Introduction These Terms and conditions apply to this website and to the transactions related to our products and services. You may be bound by additional contracts related to your relationship with us or any products or services that you receive from us. If any provisions of the additional contracts conflict with any provisions of these Terms, the provisions of these additional contracts will control and prevail. 2. Binding By registering with, accessing, or otherwise using this website, you hereby agree to be bound by these Terms and conditions set forth… - [Writing Competitions - Deadlines in Novemeber 2025](https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/next-month/): [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]This list shows writing events with opportunities to win prizes and get published with deadlines in NOVEMBER 2025. For a list of all current (upcoming) events, please refer to our main calendar page[/vc_column_text][vc_message style=”square” message_box_color=”success” css=”.vc_custom_1740826382495{margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”] Note: We do not host any of the events listed here. If you have any questions about a particular event, please reach out to the event organizer. Always do your own research before submitting your work, especially if participating in the event requires paying an entry fee. [/vc_message][vc_separator style=”shadow” css=”.vc_custom_1740693537597{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””][add_eventon_list fixed_month=”11″ fixed_year=”2025″ ux_val=”4″ event_past_future=”future” hide_so=”yes” show_year=”yes” rss=”no” hide_end_time=”no” accord=”no” eventtop_style=”0″… - [Newsletter Subscription](https://dystopianstories.com/newsletter/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] The Writing Deadlines newsletter delivers a carefully curated roundup of the newest competitioms and submission calls from around the world – straight to your inbox. Join a growing community of writers who stay informed and ahead of deadlines. Join on Substack or enter your email below to subscribe directly. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] - [Writing Competitions - Archive](https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/event-archive/): [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] The list below is an archive of events where the deadline has aleady passed. For a list of all current (upcoming) events, please refer to our main calendar page. [add_eventon_list number_of_months=”6″ month_incre=”-6″ event_order=”ASC” ux_val=”4″ event_past_future=”past” hide_so=”yes” filter_hide_indicator=”yes” hide_mult_occur=”yes” hide_empty_months=”yes”][/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”View full caledar of events scheduled for this year” style=”classic” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”far fa-calendar-check” css=”.vc_custom_1741294847134{border-radius: 1px !important;border-color: #D2D2D2 !important;}” add_icon=”true” link=”url:%2Fwriting-competitions-contests%2F|title:View%20full%20caledar%20of%20events”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section] - [404 - Content not Found](https://dystopianstories.com/404/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Sorry, but we couldn’t find the content you were looking for. If you are looking for a writing competition, it may now be past the deadline, so it has been removed from our calendar. To see current (upcoming) events, view our calendar here. To see past events, view the archive here. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Explore our resources [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] - [Add your event to our calendar](https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/add-an-event-to-our-event-list/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Quality requirement: Please submit a proper description with your event. Listings should be informative and provide details about your organization and the event. Single sentence descriptions with little or no detail provided will be auomatically rejected. Event descriptions should be written in third person (no ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’ statements). Please include an image for your event. Do not submit recurring events without specific deadlines. Please submit each event and each deadline separately. We also provide targetted, paid advertising options to maximize the visibility of your event(s). If you are interested in such options, visit our Advertising and partnerships page… - [Cookie Policy](https://dystopianstories.com/cookie-policy-for-dystopianstories-com/): [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]This is the Cookie Policy for Almond Press – DystopianStories.com, accessible from https://dystopianstories.com/ What Are Cookies As is common practice with almost all professional websites this site uses cookies, which are tiny files that are downloaded to your computer, to improve your experience. This page describes what information they gather, how we use it and why we sometimes need to store these cookies. We will also share how you can prevent these cookies from being stored however this may downgrade or ‘break’ certain elements of the sites functionality. How We Use Cookies We use cookies for a variety of reasons… - [Privacy Statement](https://dystopianstories.com/privacy-policy/): At Almond Press – DystopianStories.com, accessible from https://dystopianstories.com/, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by Almond Press – DystopianStories.com and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in Almond Press – DystopianStories.com. This policy is not applicable to any information… - [Literary Journals and Magazines Accepting Submissions](https://dystopianstories.com/creative-writing-journals/): [vc_section content_placement=”top”][vc_row el_class=”headerimage”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”34451685″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” css=”” image_hovers=”false”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Welcome to our directory of literary journals and magazines accepting creative writing submissions. Whether you’re a poet, fiction writer, essayist, or work across multiple genres, this curated list connects you directly with publishing opportunities that match your work. What You’ll Find Here Each listing includes detailed information about the publication, submission guidelines, genre focus, and a direct link to submit your work. We’ve organized this resource to save you hours of research time, letting you focus on what matters most – your writing. Always Current, Always Growing We understand that submission… - [What is a dystopian story?](https://dystopianstories.com/dystopian-short-story-example/): [vc_section content_placement=”top” el_class=”headerimage”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”34451687″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” css=”” image_hovers=”false”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1740772126258{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] An Example of a Dystopian Short Story The dystopian genre can be varied and crossed with many other genres. It is this, along with the foundations of the idea of dystopian, that give writer’s such a wide scope of imagination and possibility. Dystopian romance. Dystopian horror. Dystopian fantasy. Dystopian fairy tale. We could go on. So what factors makes a story dystopian? There are a lot of answers, but a few include: Disturbing. Within our reach (a potential future). Parallels to our reality. Unsettling. Some, or… - [Dystopian Books and Short Story Collections](https://dystopianstories.com/books/): [vc_section css=”.vc_custom_1742403425684{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 45px !important;}”][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1740825277766{padding-top: 15px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1740824148637{padding-right: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””] Apocalypse Chronicles Ash, fear, moments of reconciliation; darkness, hope, moments of regret. What will the Apocalypse bring for you? Apocalypse Chronicles brings together stories, memories, and endings. Woven together by their collective experience, each tale offers a unique and harrowing understanding of what the Apocalypse will mean for their world. Families, worlds, futures and pasts are explored in this unique anthology that brings together fiction from authors from across the globe. Bear witness to the end of the world as you know it; but will you know how… - [Almond Press | Dystopian Fiction and Resources for Writers](https://dystopianstories.com/): [vc_section css=”.vc_custom_1745631604557{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” content_placement=”top”][vc_row gap=”30″ equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1748897531573{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”] Almond Press is an independent publisher of dystopian and apocalyptic short fiction. We bring together authors, readers, and independent publishers to find new talent while sharing and promoting great writing opportunities. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_separator align=”align_left” css=”.vc_custom_1740537134808{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” vertical_content_position=”middle” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1785395872842{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;background-color: #F9F9F9 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-color: #ECECEC !important;}” content_placement=”middle”][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1785395410430{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;}”] Writing Competitions Our website features the most comprehensive and regularly-updated list of creative writing competitions available online. It includes many… - [About Us](https://dystopianstories.com/about-almond-press/): [vc_section][vc_row gap=”20″ equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]We are a group of individuals drawn together through a passion for writing and an interest in the future of independent and sustainable publishing. Our aim is to bring together authors, readers, and independent publishers in an attempt to find new talent while sharing and promoting great writing. It can be difficult to get your foot in the door with a great publishing company, but we believe that there are many talented writers with undiscovered potential out there. For this reason, we share opportunities, such as creative writing competitions and literary journals that are open to submissions, in an effort… - [Contact Us](https://dystopianstories.com/contact-us/): [vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=””] Let us know if you have any questions or if there is anything we can improve. We provide paid advertising and are open to partnerships. For more information, visit our advertising and partnerships page. We are currently not accepting manuscript submissions. Check out our event listing page for opportunities to submit your work. If you’d like to add an event to our list of writing competitions, send us the details using this form. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator style=”shadow” css=””][/vc_column][/vc_row] [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)