The Practice of Writing on Substack seeks original craft essays of approximately 1,000 words for regular publication.
We want original craft essays that follow The Practice of Writing‘s three-part approach:
- Personal Reason
Open with a reflective, personal anecdote or motivation: Why does this craft concept matter to you right now as a writer or teacher? - The Concept
Deliver a clear, insightful, and practical explanation of the craft element. Use literary examples, analogies, and specific techniques to make the idea actionable and memorable for working writers. - Prompt / Application
Close with a strong, generative writing prompt (or series of prompts) that invites readers to immediately experiment with the concept. The prompt should feel specific, inviting, and rich enough to spark new work.
Craft essays should be written in a warm, conversational voice and offer practical insight for working writers. We are excited by essays that reflect a writer’s genuine curiosity, passion, and perspective. More than anything, we want to hear your voice on the page and see how your experience, questions, and discoveries shape your approach to craft.
We welcome essays on fiction, flash fiction, CNF, hybrid forms, voice, structure, place, tension, defamiliarization, revision, and other aspects of literary craft. We are especially interested in essays that make craft feel tangible, usable, and alive.
Both standalone essays and contributions to ongoing craft series are welcome.
We encourage submissions from writers, teachers, and creatives at all stages of their practice.
Example of the style and formula we use:
“The Spiral Story: Writing Toward the Center”
Guidelines:
- Target length: 900–1,100 words
- Previously unpublished work only
- Include 2–4 literary examples or vivid analogies where they strengthen the explanation
- Clearly mark the prompt section (e.g., “Prompt Time” or similar)
Originality: The Practice of Writing values authentic engagement with the creative process. We ask that all submissions be original and represent ideas, experiences, and insights you genuinely stand behind.
Language: English only
Every submission is read by Nina & Leah with care.
How to Submit:
Submit your complete essay as a .DOCX or PDF through our Submissions Portal (https://tally.so/r/XxzANO).
Rights & Compensation:
We acquire non-exclusive electronic publication rights for The Practice of Writing on Substack and on our website. Authors retain full copyright and are welcome to republish their essays elsewhere after they appear in The Practice of Writing.
Contributors receive a $10 honorarium via PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle within a week of publication.
Accepted essays also receive prominent placement, newsletter promotion, Substack byline, and potential featuring in our Flash Club community discussions.
Deadline: Rolling submissions. We review on an ongoing basis and aim to respond within 2-4 weeks. Every submission is read by a human and considered with care.
Thank you for trusting us with your work. We look forward to reading it and hope to share it with our growing community of engaged, practice-oriented writers.
Warmly,
Leah Scott-Kirby & Nina Barufaldi
The Practice of Writing
