Hi Squad,
Hello and welcome to a brand new year of the Write Squad Community. Itās so great to have you here. How was your new year?
The new year is my favourite time of the year. Yes, Iām one of those crazy ones who love planning forward, setting goals and intentions for the year ahead. But, thatās good news for you and we have some exciting things planned for the WSC in 2025.
If youāve signed up for these newsletters donāt forget you can also follow me over on insta to join in the conversation. Youāll find me @jfgibsonwriter.
āļø Are you a WSC VIP Member?
If youāve signed up to be a WSC VIP Member Iām super excited for the year ahead. I have locked in most of our guests whoāll be joining us for our monthly guest zoom including some wonderful authors and also a literary agent! Weāll also make a commitment to writing with our writing zooms which I canāt wait for. (Iām super keen to get back into writing after a break.) And, to kick of the year we have a very special guest for our first zoom which will be on Wednesday February 5th with author VA and marketing specialist Annie Bucknall which is one not to miss (and donāt forget all our guest sessions are recorded and available in our private group if you canāt make it), so pop that one into the diary.
Still on the fence? š Find more info here.
š° Just here for the newsletters?
If youāre here just for the newsletters, thatās all good too. Thereāll be lots of writing tips to come over the coming months, as well as links to competitions and opportunities. And donāt forget if you have something exciting happening in your writing world Iād love to hear about it and share it with the squad so just hit reply to any of the newsletters or leave a comment for me here.
Congratulations for committing to your writing for 2025, and I canāt wait to share the ups and downs, fun and games and happy ever afters with you.
Until next week,
Jodi š
Comps & Opportunities
āļø Tasmanian Writersā Prize
Date: 14th February
The prize is for short stories up to 3,000 words having an island, or island-resonant, theme. Details here.
āļø Mulga Bill Writing Award
Date: 24th February
Poetry and short stories accepted. Details here.
āļø Sorrento Creative Writing Prize
Date: 1st March
$5,000 prize, short story 2,500 words. Details here.
Food for Thought
ā”ļø Jane Friedmanās Key Book Publishing Pathways for 2025 - 2026
ā”ļø Penguin Random House Acquires Text Publishing
Ask The Author Podcast
šļø This week, on the Ask The Author podcastā¦
Returns February 2025. Donāt forget you can head through the backlist of amazing episodes in the meantime. And, if you have your own question, please feel free to ask by hitting reply to this email. (And you can remain anonymous.)
Now out on your fav podcast app, or hereās the apple link or simply search for Ask The Author with Jodi Gibson
Until next time, happy writing!
Thank you for subscribing to the WSC Writers Hub, which is a free community on Substack. My vision is to create a community of likeminded people thatās accessible to all which is why I operate under the free subscription model. However, if you find what Iām offering is of value and you wish to contribute, you can drop me a tip via ko-fi,com. to show your support.
Hi Jodi,
I have subscribed to Write Squad Community. It's through paypal and under my husband's name John Howley. Looking forward to being a more committed member this year. I had some writing slumps last year and at times couldn't get motivated. I really enjoy being part of a community which is why I'm back.
Can't wait to meet you and everyone again.
Mary H