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Craft Essay Submissions

Call for ~1,000-Word Craft Essays – The Practice of Writing

The Practice of Writing Substack seeks original craft essays of approximately 1,000 words (900–1,100 words) for regular publication.

We are looking for 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.

Example of our style/formula:

The Femme Grotesque

The Inevitable Funnel of Death

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.

Submission 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- Previously unpublished work only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 your own original work and represent ideas, experiences, and insights you genuinely stand behind.
Language: English only
This is a human-read process. Every submission is read with care.

Publication & Rights

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, a Substack byline, and potential featuring in our Flash Club community discussions.

Questions?

About the Author

Your Submission

Title

Primary Craft Topic

Why This Craft Concept?

Word Count

Upload Your Essay (.DOCX or PDF):

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