CFF Newsletter2026 Q1
Welcome to the Debut Issue of the Columbia Fiction Foundry Newsletter
From the editor: Welcome to the first issue of CFF’s quarterly newsletter, our latest effort to build community, support fiction writers and, maybe, inspire our members. This issue includes a story on our newest board member, who has just published her first book; a publicist’s advice on how to take the first step toward publishing; and upcoming events for CFF members. Let us know your ideas and questions for future newsletters. —Linda Raymond Ellison, editor.
Sears’ First Book Reflects Literary Community, Fine Writing And Life
A collection of 11 stories follows Ruthie, a missionary child, as she matures and questions her faith. Sears wove other themes through the connected stories including links between love, abuse and religious fervor.
Where to Find Help Getting Published? Other Writers
Getting a book published is hard and takes a long time, publicist Jessie Glenn told CFF members at an on-line presentation on November 11, 2025, but Glenn offered tips on where to find help and support.
ROAD TO PUBLICATION
Top Ten Things You Need Before Pitching Agents and Publishers
This column is by agents, publishers, and publicists who will offer tips on getting published. This issue's column was written by Jessie Glenn, director, Mindbuck Media.
President's Corner
This quarterly newsletter adds another CFF communication tool to strengthen our writing community and achieve our mission: helping each other improve our craft and facilitate publication. Along with our ongoing workshops, we’re planning several programs to provide members with useful knowledge and industry contacts.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TAKEAWAYS...
Columbia Fiction Foundry’s video library offers a variety of talks, round table discussions and other programs of interest to our members. A sample of programs you can explore:
How to Get Out of the Slush Pile. Competency is not enough. It earns a polite rejection, according to Author/Editor/Teacher Dawn Raffel. She told a CFF webinar audience (December 2, 2025) “I’ve come to believe that underlying all of those good things that editors and readers say they desire—voice, character, insight, presence on the page, and, yes, that blasted spark—lies a single attribute: precision in sentence-making. Video.
Saving a query from instant doom. Leading literary agents at a roundtable discussion last April talked about the worst mistakes an author can make in a query letter. Members of the Agents Round Table had hints on what works, too. CFF president Ken Schept led the discussion. Video.
Jill Santopolo’s reading of The Light We Lost for audio books left listeners in tears. Writers don’t usually see readers’ reactions to their books. In a conversation with CFF communications director Mauricio Matiz, Santopolo, a best selling author, had advice for fellow writers on viewing criticism critically—and other issues. Video.
COMING UP...
AWP holds publishing industry gathering. AWP, the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, holds its annual Conference & Bookfair in Baltimore this year, March 4-7. If you’re planning to attend AWP, let us know at [email protected]. We’ll invite you to a CFF meet-up.
Agents & Editors Conference set for June 2026. The Writers League of Texas holds its annual Agents & Editors Conference the weekend of June 26 to 28, in Austin. This weekend is an effective way to meet face-to-face with writers and agents from all parts of the US.
CFF Presents: “Manuscript Flaws and Fixes.” Four members of 5E, a cooperative of experienced independent editors, will discuss how to recognize and rectify manuscript problems that often thwart chances of landing an agent or a book deal. The program will take place online, March 12, 2026 at 7pm. All CFF members are invited to register here.
Columbia Selects on first Tuesday. Columbia Selects, a Columbia MFA reading series, takes place on the first Tuesday of many months at KGB bar, 85 East Fourth Street, Manhattan. The readings are a good place to meet other members of the literary community. Check the KGB Bar online calendar to confirm the Columbia Selects Tuesday.
We'd love to get your comments at:
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