We’re looking for writers to join our team of bloggers. Write blog posts that have clear take-aways for the writing community, and follow submission requirements. We ask for a commitment to a monthly deadline. Besides being published on our site, your blog posts will be emailed to 2,500+ subscribers — a mix of members and nonmembers —  and promoted on our social media accounts. Submission Requirements What We Publish We publish posts that educate writers about the craft and business  … Read More »

I love Microsoft Word. I’ve been using it for decades. I know it. It works for me. So why in the world would I consider switching to the other word-processing tool, Scrivener? There’s a reason why Scrivener is considered by many best-selling authors to be the # 1 tool in their writing arsenal,  and I’m all-in on anything that will help me become more proficient and better organized. When M.J. Carlson agreed to run an interactive online workshop on how … Read More »

If you have attended a Florida Writers Conference, you may have seen “FWA,” “FWF” and “the Foundation” used in various conference materials or on signs in the hall. Even among Florida Writers Association (FWA) veteran members, there has been some confusion about what the Foundation is and what it does. I am excited to share the purpose of the Foundation and spread the word about what we hope to do to affect change. What does the Foundation do? The Florida … Read More »

It’s that time again—submitting entries, monitoring email, planning the perfect outfit, imagining the feel of that engraved trophy, practicing your handshake for Chris Coward. Just me? The excitement surrounding the Royal Palm Literary Awards is palpable at each stage of the process from sending in your work to getting notifications of advancement to that glorious banquet day. In order to save you time and possible frustration with the process, we’ve gathered a list of do’s and don’ts to help you … Read More »

I’ve gone home from the Florida Writer Association’s Royal Palm Literary Award banquets with an armful of trophies and I’ve gone home empty-handed. Both euphoria at winning and a tinge of disappointment over not are valid emotions. But there is another set of powerful feelings that I have discovered that transcends my own personal outcomes in the contests. These I would describe under the banner of  “satisfaction.” When I look around the room I see hope in the eyes of … Read More »

At the 2017 Royal Palm Literary Award Banquet, author Kim Hackett won First Place for her unpublished short story, Without Witness. Each year at the RPLA Banquet, authors experience the joy of earning accolades for all the hard work that is often done in the privacy of the home with little to no recognition. We’re showcasing the best of the best with our First Place winners spotlight. Not only does RPLA recognize extraordinary talent, but we’re giving readers an opportunity to … Read More »