Who Are You Writing For?
Why Your Vision Matters | Authortunities 109 | April 12 — May 10
Trends: do we set them or do they settle us?
When I first set out to build a career in fiction, I absorbed everything I could about what publishers wanted—and there was (and still is) an overwhelming amount of advice out there. The trouble was, most of it conflicted. One week I'd read that vampire shifter romance was the hottest genre; the next, the same sources would declare it completely dead, insisting publishers now wanted cyberpunk dystopias and nothing else. Popular subgenres changed faster than my hair color in the '80s. It left me feeling overwhelmed and directionless.
Then, thanks to Bryan Thao Worra, I discovered my authentic voice (I talked about this turning point in last week’s post). The more comfortable I became expressing who I truly am, the freer my writing became. Trends were no longer something I felt forced to follow; instead, they became toys I could creatively play with. Vampire shifter romance? Absolutely, but the shifting will involve the glowing, kinetic tattoos I not-so-secretly dream about. Your writing can become its own limitless cosmos, crossing into unexplored territory. Your authentic voice is the vehicle to take you there.
Maybe right now, you're feeling pulled in a dozen directions by conflicting writing advice. Are you anxious about fitting your story neatly into a genre box—or worse, writing something only because it seems commercially viable? Here’s what I've learned: The heart of your writing isn't defined by trends or labels. It’s defined by your vision—your unique reason for creating and the specific readers you want to reach. And here’s the best part: That’s your ultimate job security. Only you can write your vision.
Clarify Your Creative Vision
Your creative vision isn't just your story’s plot or the genre you choose. It’s the deeper why behind your writing. It’s the inner fire that motivates you and guides your creative decisions. A clear vision does three transformative things for you:
Keeps You Aligned.
When your deeper purpose is clear, it becomes your creative compass. You'll stop second-guessing yourself because you'll know exactly where you're headed.Connects You with the Right Audience.
You don't need every reader—just the readers who deeply resonate with your work. Readers love writing that feels intentional. When your vision is clear, they recognize themselves reflected in your stories.Protects Your Creative Energy.
There's a lot of noise out there. Having a clear vision empowers you to say no to opportunities and ideas that distract you from your true goals. Instead of draining yourself by chasing every fleeting trend, you'll invest in what genuinely moves you.
So how do you start clarifying your creative vision? Begin by answering these two powerful questions:
Who Are You Writing For? Imagine your ideal reader vividly: Who are they? What excites them? What challenges do they face? Visualizing your readers as real, living individuals transforms abstract stories into meaningful, emotional connections. Try writing a "love letter" to your ideal reader, describing exactly what you hope your writing will mean to them. Keep this letter near your workspace as an ongoing reminder of your purpose.
What Do You Want Your Writing to Accomplish? Forget about sales figures, awards, or bestseller lists for a moment. When someone finishes your story, how do you want them to feel? What insights or emotional transformations do you want them to experience? Articulating your deeper intentions reveals the heart of your vision and empowers every word you write.
This week I received the greatest compliment I've ever gotten—better than any award or big paycheck. Someone asked me to write "a Vanilla Rice." That meant the world to me. I had created something unique, memorable, and authentically mine. Not only was my story remembered, but they wanted more.
That's my vision: to build a cosmos—a creative universe—rooted in my own voice and perspective.
Vision Transcends Genre
Genres come and go. Vampires give way to dystopian futures, which yield to cozy mysteries and then evolve into magical realism. A compelling vision, however, is timeless. Readers aren't loyal to a genre. They’re loyal to emotional resonance, authenticity, and storytelling that aligns with their hearts.
Think of your favorite authors. Chances are, you love their work not because it fits neatly into a genre box, but because their vision aligns deeply with your own experiences and values. That kind of alignment builds true reader loyalty, transforms casual readers into lifelong fans, and sustains meaningful writing careers.
Your Vision Is Enough
Consider this your official permission slip: Stop chasing trends and start embracing your authentic vision. The ideas and feelings that energize and excite you are your creative superpowers. Lean into them. Define your purpose. Understand and connect deeply with your readers. When you write from your authentic vision, your true audience will always find you.
Your voice matters. Your vision matters. Readers need the stories only you can tell. It's time.
This Week’s Download: Author Audience Assessment
This interactive worksheet helps you align your authentic voice with the readers who need it most. Through thoughtful prompts and a powerful "Reader Venn Diagram," you’ll clarify your core values, vividly define your ideal audience, and discover the sweet spot where your writing truly resonates.
Ready to uncover the power of your authentic vision? Download your copy below!
Subscribers: Your download is available for just $8.88.
Supporting Subscribers: With deep appreciation for your generous support, your complimentary download awaits in your Supporting Subscriber area.
What Do You Think?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments or ask me yourself this Sunday at 5 pm EST in my (brand new) weekly Substack Live.
What are your creative superpower quirks?
Who is your perfect reader? Describe every detail.
Let’s celebrate our creative vision together—no judgement zone.
Readers want your voice, and only you can deliver that.
Watch my Substack Notes here for all updates including…
Authortunities Hub community | 24/7 writer support
Space and Time Magazine #147 | April 2025
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Space and Time Flash | July 2025
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Coven of the East: Reclaiming Asian Women’s Magical Histories | Fall 2025
Angela Yuriko Smith | 24/7 working writer
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♻️ reprints
🟢 WEEKLY· Reedsy Prompts is open until the following Friday for short fiction between 1,000 - 3,000 words based on one of five prompts. Writers have until the following Friday at 11.59 pm EST to enter. No fee to enter and have work posted. $5 fee to be eligible for the $250 cash prize. This week’s prompt is: In Full Bloom 🌸.
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
🟢 APR 12 · FIYAH Literary Magazine: Black Isekai Issue is open until April 30 for speculative fiction from Black authors of the African diaspora exploring the theme "Black Isekai," where characters are transported to other worlds. Accepting short stories (2,000 – 7,000 words) and novelettes (up to 15,000 words). Original submissions only; no reprints or simultaneous submissions. Payment is 8 cents per word.
https://fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/
🟢 APR 12 · Women of the Weird West anthology is open until April 30 for speculative fiction, poetry, and drabbles by authors of marginalized genders. Seeking Weird West stories set in or inspired by the Old West (circa late 1800s), featuring strong speculative elements like horror, fantasy, or sci-fi. Flash fiction up to 1,000 words, short stories between 1,000–5,000 words, poems up to 32 lines, and drabbles of exactly 100 words are welcome. No reprints or multiple submissions; simultaneous submissions are allowed. Payment is $0.10/word for fiction, $50 per poem, and $50 per drabble.
https://brigidsgatepress.com/submissions
🟢 APR 12 · Adi Magazine: Spring 2025 Fiction Call is open until May 4 for short fiction exploring alternative political visions. Seeking stories that center marginalized perspectives, especially from the Global South, and engage with themes of resistance, solidarity, and reimagined futures. Accepting unpublished short fiction up to 5,000 words and flash fiction under 1,000 words. No AI-generated content. Payment is $500 for short fiction and $200 for flash fiction.
https://adimagazine.com/submissions/
🟢 APR 12 · Chaotic Merge Magazine: Issue 9 is open until May 15 for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, screenplays, and short films that push creative boundaries. Encourages submissions from creators of color and LGBTQIA+. Payment is $3–$5 per accepted piece.
https://chaoticmergemagazine.com/submit-2/
🟢 APR 12 · Archive of the Odd: Issue 6 is open until May 15 for submissions of found fiction—stories told through documents like emails, reports, or transcripts. Accepting flash fiction (500–1,000 words), short stories (1,000–7,500 words), and novelettes (7,500–8,000 words). Payment is 1.5 cents USD per word.
https://archiveoftheodd.com/submissions/
🟢 APR 12 · Tableware Magazine is open until May 15 for original, unpublished submissions of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, visual art, photography, and reviews. Accepting up to 15 pages of writing (poetry single-spaced; fiction and nonfiction double-spaced) and up to 5 pieces of art. Payment is $50 per accepted piece. Submit via email to tablewaremag@gmail.com.
https://bigtablepress.com/tableware-magazine/
🟢 APR 12 · Griffith Review 90: Best Dressed is open until May 18 for fiction and nonfiction exploring fashion's role in identity, culture, and resistance. Submissions up to 4,000 words; full pieces only, no pitches. Payment is AUD $0.75 per word.
https://griffithreview.submittable.com/submit
🟢 APR 12 · ALOCASIA: Indigenous Issue is open until May 31 for plant-themed work by queer writers. Accepting up to 6 pieces of fiction (up to 3,500 words each), nonfiction (up to 3,500 words each), or poetry. Previously published work and simultaneous submissions are welcome. Payment is $50 per contributor. Submit via email to ALOCASIAmagazine@gmail.com.
https://alocasia.org/about-send-work/
🟢 APR 12 · CEA Mid-Atlantic Review: Volume 33 (2025) is open until June 1 for scholarly articles, essays, short fiction, poetry, and pedagogical reflections. The special theme is Artificial Intelligence, but non-themed submissions are also welcome. Fiction up to 1,500 words; poetry up to 500 words per poem (max 3 poems); essays 3,000–5,000 words. Payment is $20 per accepted piece. Submit via email to CEAMidAtlanticReview@gmail.com.
🟢 APR 12 · Samjoko Magazine is open until June 10 for fiction (1,000–4,000 words), nonfiction (1,000–4,000 words), poetry (1–5 poems; 3–50 lines each), and visual art (up to 3 pieces). No AI-generated or assisted work. Payment is $20 per accepted piece. Submit via email to SamjokoMagazine@outlook.com.
https://www.samjokomagazine.com/submission-guidelines
🟢 APR 12 · midnight & indigo is open until June 30 for submissions from Black women writers. Short stories (1,500–7,000 words) pay $0.07/word; personal essays (1,200+ words) pay $150.
https://www.midnightandindigo.com/write-for-us/
🟢 APR 12 · The Last Line Literary Journal is open until October 1 for short fiction (300–5,000 words) that ends with the line: “I called back a week later and told them we were good to go.” No reprints or simultaneous submissions. Payment is $20–$40 per piece.
https://www.thelastlinejournal.com/submission.htm
🟢 APR 12 · SUSPECT Poetry Contest is open until November 30 for poetry submissions from writers who identify as Asian. Submit 3–5 poems in any style or form. Simultaneous submissions allowed; submit no more than once every six months. Payment is $100 per accepted poem. Submit via email.
https://singaporeunbound.org/submissions
🟢 APR 12 · Hawthorn & Ash: Mistletoe and Vine Issue is open until December 31 for fantasy, speculative fiction, and horror microfiction (100–500 words). Submit up to 5 unpublished pieces. No reprints or simultaneous submissions. Payment is $0.01 per word. Submit via email.
https://ironfaeriepublishing.com/hawthorn-ash/
⭐ APR 13 · Nostalgiamares Game Night Get ready for a night of eerie fun! Join us in the Authortunities NeighborHub for a special online gaming event: Nostalgiamares, designed by Mark Guyer, featuring an Online Edition of Stephen Schwartz's Smalltown Tales. We’ll be playing live on Tabletopia—come immerse yourself in nostalgic chills and thrills this Saturday, April 12th, at 7 pm EST. The community is free to join.
https://www.authortunitieshub.com
⭐ APR 13 · Inspirational Indie Authors podcast with the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) and Howard Lovy. Dive deep into personal stories of indie authors, understanding their pathways to success, challenges faced, and lessons learned. 1 pm GMT.
https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/inspirational-indie-author-interviews-podcast/
⭐ APR 13 · Bi-Weekly Open Mic Night Join The Mad Poet and host Jordan Francis for a NeighborHub community open mic every other Sunday at 8 pm EST. Prose and poetry readings welcome. A welcoming and supportive group that encourages creative growth. For members of the Authortunities NeighborHub. Membership is free.
https://www.authortunitieshub.com
⭐ APR 13 · Rattlecast livestreams, is part interview and open mic with a prompt-based open mic. Hangout with Rattle editor Timothy Green and Katie Dozier. Each Rattlecast begins with an interview, a writing prompt, and poets reading from the last week’s prompt. | Rattlecast at 8 pm EST.
🔴 APR 14 · Wet Screams: A Monsterfucker Anthology closes for submissions of erotic creature feature short stories (2,000–6,000 words). They encourage creative explorations of creature intimacy, blending horror and erotica. Payment is CAD $0.10 per word. Simultaneous submissions and reprints are allowed. Submissions are accepted via email.
https://www.littleghostsbooks.com/wetscreams
🔴 APR 14 · Fraidy Cat Quarterly is closing the extended deadline for “LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and Palestinian authors” but remains open to submissions of black and white art. Payment is $10 for flash fiction and art artwork and $20 per short story. Work should be created with the theme of “Growth.”
https://fraidycatpress.com/submission-guidelines/
🔴 APR 15 · Consequence closes for submissions of fiction (up to 5,000 words), nonfiction (up to 4,000 words), poetry (up to 3 poems), and visual art exploring the consequences and culture of war. Payment varies by genre and publication format: Poetry—$20 per poem (print), $50 for online features, and $30 for Substack; Prose: $50 for online features, $30 for Substack. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no reprints. Submissions via Duosuma.
https://consequenceforum.org/submissions/
🔴♻️ APR 15 · Graveside Press Witchcraft Anthology closes for submissions of fiction (2,000–6,000 words) centered on witchcraft, encompassing both modern-day practices and traditional portrayals. Payment is USD $0.02 per word, paid 90 business days after publication. Simultaneous submissions and reprints are accepted; multiple submissions are not. Submissions via Duosuma.
https://graveside-press.com/call-for-submissions-witchcraft-anthology/
🔴 APR 15 · Translunar Travelers Lounge closes for submissions of speculative fiction (up to 5,000 words) in fantasy and science fiction genres. Payment is USD $0.03 per word, with a minimum of $20. Simultaneous submissions and reprints are not accepted. Submissions via Moksha submission manager.
https://translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions/
🔴♻️ APR 17 · Collaborature Monthly Contest is closing for fiction and poetry “written by more than one author or include a collaboration of two people (i.e., art and poetry).” Reprints are allowed. Payment is $20 USD.
https://collaborature.blogspot.com/p/contests.html
🔴 APR 15 · Electric Spec closes to speculative fiction stories of “science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre” between 250 and 7000 words for their May issue. Payment is $20 per piece.
http://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html
🔴 APR 15 · The Threepenny Review closes for submissions of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Fiction submissions should be up to 4,000 words; nonfiction articles between 1,200 and 2,500 words; and poetry submissions may include up to five poems, each no longer than 100 lines. Payment is USD $400 per story or article and $200 per poem. Simultaneous submissions and reprints are not accepted. Submissions are accepted via their online submission system or by mail.
https://www.threepennyreview.com/submissions.html
🔴 APR 15 · Tales from the Crosstimbers closes for submissions of fiction (1,000–5,000 words) in science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and horror genres, as well as nonfiction essays (1,000–2,500 words) related to these genres or the craft of writing. Payment is USD $0.01 per word, with a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $25. Simultaneous submissions are allowed; reprints are not accepted. Submissions are accepted via an online form.
https://thecrosstimbers.online/submission-requirements/
🔴 APR 15 · Fifth Wheel Press closes for submissions of fiction (up to 2,000 words), nonfiction (up to 2,000 words), poetry (3–5 poems), and visual art. Fifth Wheel Press seeks submissions from individuals who belong to the queer, trans, and/or gender variant communities. The current theme is "Tragic-Romantic." Payment ranges from $5 to $50, depending on the submission category. Submit via Duosuma.
https://fifthwheelpress.com/submit
🔴 APR 15 · Cutleaf Journal closes for submissions of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Payment ranges $100–$400 for prose, $50–$200 per poem. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no reprints. Submit via Submittable.
https://cutleafjournal.com/submit
🔴 APR 17 · Epic Echoes Magazine closes for submissions of short fiction (1,000–3,000 words). Epic Echoes is a digital magazine that blends the spirit of vintage pulp fiction with modern sensibilities. They seek action-adventure, fantasy, horror, mystery/crime, and science fiction stories. Payment is a $10 honorarium. Reprints are not accepted; simultaneous submissions are allowed. Submit via email.
https://www.epicechoesmag.com/submissions
🔴 APR 18 · Rattle Magazine’s “Poets Respond” challenge calls for poems inspired by “a news story or public event from the previous week, and has been written in the time since.” Selected poems will appear as the Sunday poem at Rattle.com which appear to over 10,000 people via RSS feed and daily email service. Poets will receive $100 and a free print magazine subscription. Each week's deadline is Friday midnight PST.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/30232/poets-respond-online
🔴 APR 20 · Astrolabe closes for submissions of fiction, narrative nonfiction, and visual art. Payment is $50 per accepted submission. Simultaneous submissions allowed; no reprints. Submit via email.
https://www.astrolabe.ooo/submissions
⭐ APR 20 · Rattlecast livestreams, is part interview and open mic with a prompt-based open mic. Hangout with Rattle editor Timothy Green and Katie Dozier. Each Rattlecast begins with an interview, a writing prompt, and poets reading from the last week’s prompt. | Rattlecast at 8 pm EST.
🔴 APR 21 · Meanjin Quarterly closes for submissions of fiction and poetry. Payment: AUD $0.40/word minimum for fiction; AUD $250 minimum per poem. Submissions restricted to Australian writers. No reprints; simultaneous submissions policy unspecified. Submit via Submittable.
https://meanjin.com.au/about-meanjin/get-in-touch/contribute-to-meanjin/
🔴 APR 25 · Rattle Magazine’s “Poets Respond” challenge calls for poems inspired by “a news story or public event from the previous week, and has been written in the time since.” Selected poems will appear as the Sunday poem at Rattle.com which appear to over 10,000 people via RSS feed and daily email service. Poets will receive $100 and a free print magazine subscription. Each week's deadline is Friday midnight PST.
https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/30232/poets-respond-online
⭐ APR 26 · Indie Pub Scranton is a workshop which aims to bring together like-minded authors filled with passion, drive, and determination. This will be an intimate workshop with a limited number of participants, ensuring a personalized experience and greater opportunities for meaningful networking with fellow authors. Costs $150, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePJ3y21Qm74SouTQX_y8Y2OBGrmCIZAkq3opj0q3l389JGjQ/viewform
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