Are you full yet? As if last week didn't have enough fooooooooood in it, it's time for Instant Noodles! Instant Noodles is our online literary magazine. Free to read, and free to submit to. The magazine used to be my own private project, with a "little" help from Dave on most of the covers. I believe I did photos for the first and third one, and then Dave did his usual great job making them look nice.

A complete professional copy edit with tracked changes and a clean final manuscript—perfect for any writer.

Last Chance to get published this year!SUBMISSIONS FOR 2025 ARE OPEN THROUGH 11.02.25. The Old Scratch Press team asks that all fiction/non-fiction pieces adhere to a word count of 500 words or less. Topics/themes for 2025 GRAVY is our 2025 winter holiday theme. Give us your best holiday gravy fails, mishaps, ridiculous gravy encounters (any December holiday, from Hanukkah, to Solstice, to NYE, etc.) or your best funny work about gravy, in general.

TODAY'S THE DAY! Join us today as we celebrate the release of a trio of poetry collections! 📅 TODAY: October 25⏰ 5 PM ET | 2 PM PT📍 Live on Zoom The preregistration period has ended but you can still join us. Simply click the button link below at event time to join. Note: Early arrivals will be placed into a waiting room until the meeting officially begins.Today's event features readings by:

This week, Di takes a deeper dive into Substack, with suggestions on how to make meaningful engagements that will help build your readership.

This week, Di takes a deeper dive into Substack, with suggestions on how to make meaningful engagements that will help build your readership.

A podcast is a fantastic way to get yourself and your writing endeavors out there. They last a long time, and are endlessly interesting to people who haven't heard them. If you listen to one author on one podcast you may discover many more authors you might end up loving... bonus! This is a podcast starring my friend, and OSP poet, Gabby Gilliam. Why not enjoy it with your Sunday morning coffee? EPISODE 43

As writers, we’re always asking the same question: how do I find more readers? You might already have a website, maybe a few social media accounts, maybe even a book or two out in the world. But reaching the right people—and keeping them engaged—isn’t easy. That’s where Substack comes in. You’ve probably heard the name tossed around, but what exactly is it?

I am very sad to say that Trudy Jas has left the physical world for the spiritual one. Our hearts go out to her family at this sad time when they must be missing her greatly. In the spirit of remembering Trudy, please let me share with you her most recent piece that was published in Instant Noodles: She sits near the window, her cataract-clouded eyes staring at the street.

Writing can sometimes feel like a solitary journey—but networking ensures it doesn’t have to be. One of the most rewarding steps you can take as an author is to connect with another writer who is at a similar point in their career, works in your genre, and whose work you genuinely enjoy. This isn’t about competition; it’s about collaboration. Building a professional acquaintance with a peer (networking) provides an opportunity to support one another and reach new readers.

You wrote your book, but you also have to sell it. That's why Current Words Publishing hosts a monthly author marketing meeting, free for all clients. Each month we tackle a practical, real-world challenge that authors face. Book marketing takes time and persistence. Every author I know faces the same challenge: How do I reach more readers without burning out?

📣 Calling all marketing pros! At Current Words Publishing, we host monthly marketing meetups for our authors — and we’d love to have you as a guest speaker. 🌟 What’s in it for you? A fun, welcoming Zoom crowd (2nd Saturday of each month at 9AM PT for just about an hour). A chance to share your marketing smarts with authors actively promoting their books.