Happy Friday, dear reader. Hope you’ve had a great week!

I got some great news on Wednesday: I’ve been accepted into a one-week writing workshop in Italy this October. Because this combines my two loves – writing and travel – I am on Cloud Freakin' Nine right now.

How did I get in? Well, I said, Why not?, cobbled together a writing sample and covering letter, and hit 'Send.'

That’s it.

The older I get, the more I'm finding that it’s worthwhile to step out on a limb and attempt something great.

In that spirit, this week’s #FridayFinds are all about YOU taking risks: fun risks related to writing! (Conference, journal, and book review submission opportunities below.)

AWP 2018 Registration Now Open

As of July 31, early-bird registration is open for the Association of Writers & Writing Programs 2018 conference!

If you’ve never heard of AWP, it’s an annual event that packs writers into a conference hall for a few days of lectures, seminars, a book fair, and networking events. This is one of the few industry events I know that attracts MFA faculty, traditional editors, and agents, so it’s well worth going, if you can. 

Next year's conference takes place in Tampa, Florida, from March 7—10. If you want to wait for more details before registering, the conference schedule goes live this October, but non-members can register now (with a one-year AWP membership thrown in) for $225.  

(I'll be in attendance, so if you go, let me know. Would love to grab a coffee!)

Literary Magazine Bridge Eight Now Accepting Submissions

Speaking of open, literary magazine Bridge Eight* is now accepting submissions for its seventh issue. The magazine is known for its concept issues, and Issue 7 is no different.

From the magazine’s Submittable page:

“This issue, we're looking for writing that explores the natural, organic, pure, as well as the antithesis of all of these. As one of our broadest concepts, do with it as you will—to whatever extreme. At the end of the day, we're looking for poetry, fiction and non fiction pieces that are grounded, raw, and textured—pieces that go deep into humanity's (and the earth's) natural state (or challenge the notion of "organic" altogether).”

Submissions close October 1. Learn more here: https://leftonmallory.submittable.com/submit.

Build Pre-Pub Buzz with a Blog Tour

Are you a soon-to-be published author looking to get some pre-pub buzz? A book blog tour can be a successful, free and/or cheap way to do so.

To find ideal blogs to pitch, look no further than Reedsy’s database of book review blogs. You can comb through 174 websites by genre, average traffic, and whether the reviewers accept indie and self-published submissions.

Hope this helps! I’d love to hear what sorts of risks you’re taking this week. Share them with us in the comments below.

Happy writing,
Jessica Hatch

Every Friday, Friday Finds brings you a round-up of helpful writing, editing, and publishing tips right here... or in your inbox, if you subscribe to my newsletter!