50,000 words. One month. Plenty of support along the way. ✍️ For the Reedsy Novel Sprint 2026, we’re hosting live workshops on outlining, openings, characters, the messy middle, finishing your draft, editing, and what comes after “The End.” We’ll also be running writing sprints to help you stay on track.

Last week we asked: do you need an agent to be traditionally published? Most of you said “it depends,” and you’re right. It mostly comes down to what you’re writing. As a rule of thumb: the bigger and more mainstream the publisher, the more likely they’ll only accept agented submissions. • Fiction, children’s books, and memoir: an agent is close to essential for mid-to-large publishers • Nonfiction, poetry, cookbooks, academic books: smaller and specialist publishers often accept direct submissions • There are always exceptions — but unagented queries to major trade publishers are routinely ignored A good agent negotiates your advance, royalties, and rights, and takes around 15% commission. They should never charge you upfront. Did you go the agented route, or find another way in? Our full guide to literary agents is in the comments.

When readers are scrolling on Amazon or browsing in a bookshop, a book cover has just a second or two to do its job. Our co-founder Ricardo Fayet joined Ferol Vernon on The Written Word Podcast from @WrittenWordM to talk about what makes a cover work. Learn everything from why your cover text matters more than the image to how to get the best out of working with a cover designer. If you have a cover on the horizon, it’s well worth a listen. Link in the comments 🎧

What if midwives were outlaws? Karen Lawrence spent years delivering babies as an NHS midwife in the UK before that question became her debut novel. She wrote the first 50,000 words during NaNoWriMo, then spent years redrafting before self-publishing The Last Midwife — a dystopian story set in a future London where childbirth is controlled by the state. She hoped to sell a thousand copies. Ten months on, she has 12,000 readers, a gold medal at the 2026 IPPY Awards, and is looking for a film and TV agent. "When you believe in your book, other people will want to know what it's all about” Her striking cover was created by Reedsy designer Roderick — and we think it shows 🔥 Read more about how she took a November’s worth of writing and sparked an award-winning debut. Link in comments 🔗

What’s the most common mistake authors make when self-publishing? 📚 Literary translator Mariafelicia Maione, who has translated more than 50 books, says it is: Trying to do everything alone. Her advice: “Find the right professional for you and your project, and work closely with them. You won't regret the expense, I promise.”  Self-publishing can be incredibly empowering, but sometimes you still need professional input. Which part of the publishing process would you never hand over — and which would you happily pass to an expert? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments 👇 And if you’re looking for a publishing expert today, find the right professional for your book on Reedsy. Link below 🔗