Here are the latest Writer's Digest newsletters with details of upcoming offers, writing competitions and events:
Plus, discover how a
field trip can help you perfect your story.
|
|
|
by Steven James and
Pam Johnson
The relationship between writer and editor can be incredibly positive and
mutually beneficial as you both learn from each other. But if your
expectations aren't aligned, it can also be toxic and infuriating -- for both
parties. Wherein lies the balance? We asked professional freelance editor Pam
Johnson and award-winning novelist Steven James, frequent collaborators, to
map out the 7 deadly sins most commonly committed by their counterpart.
Writers, listen up: These insights are going to help you understand the
wheels turning in your editor's mind when she made the changes or suggestions
that she did. And editors, take note: The language you use and the
assumptions you make might be inadvertently offending an author in ways you
never even imagined. May you all find hope, ye who enter here.
1. Lack of
Communication: Failing to specify expectations.
EDITOR'S TAKE:
Writers -- please set editing goals, communicate expectations and ask for any
clarifications before the editor jumps in. We look at your manuscript with a
different set of eyes depending on what you want, so it's important to let
your editor know exactly what you want.
Also, tell your editor directly if you don't want her to follow grammar
rules. We know there are times when an author likes to break conventions.
Remember, editors have been trained to point out grammatical errors. So let
her know if you've made a stylistic choice to ignore the rules.
WRITER'S TAKE:
Absolutely. Communication up-front prevents a lot of problems down the line.
2. Sloppiness: Not
submitting your best work.
EDITOR'S TAKE:
You may think, "Well, she's an editor, so she can fix all my typos and
errors. I don't need to correct them before I submit." Not true! Poor
punctuation, grammar, spelling and so on is so distracting to an editor that
she will struggle to concentrate on the story she's been hired to edit.
Unless you only want proofreading, please submit as clean a copy as possible.
WRITER'S TAKE:
Authors -- never settle for sending in less than your best!
3. Stubbornness:
Refusing to change your course of action.
EDITOR'S TAKE:
You have probably hired an editor to point out what she considers to be
errors in your manuscript. No, she shouldn't change your "voice,"
but if something doesn't make sense or the punctuation is confusing, you need
to at least consider her suggestions. Don't be married to what may be a fatal
mistake in your story.
WRITER'S TAKE:
I usually think of it this way: Don't fall in love with the first draft.
Read More...
|
Mackenzie Belcastro addresses writers who
are despairing over their early drafts, highlighting five ways you can
persevere and discover your story within them. Read More...
|
Dana Chamblee Carpenter recalls a panel on
which Anne Perry tossed aside the idea that the historical fiction writer had
a responsibility to get everything "right." We're storytellers,
after all, not historians.
Read More...
|
Ahead of NaNoWriMo and the WD Novel Writing
Conference, Grant Faulkner shares a great technique for gathering excellent
details for your story: a "story field trip" -- an imaginative
scavenger hunt to gather details, sensory information, and character
insights.
Read More...
|
The latest edition of Robert Lee Brewer's
column, "Why I Write Poetry," comes from Ravishu Punia who writes,
"Through poems, words say nothing and yet, they utter everything." Read More...
|
In this episode of the Writer's Digest
Podcast, Heather Graham shares: Why writers need editors and editors need
writers, tips to carve out time for your writing in your already busy life,
the benefits of writing groups, and more. Read More...
|
The Reaper Knocks: There's a thunderous knock at the door. You open it to find
an improbably tall, black-robed figure towering over you with a scythe in one
bony hand. The figure peers at you for a long moment, then looks down at a
clipboard in its other hand. Then back at you. Then back at the paper. It has
no apparent face, but you sense that it is puzzled.
Post your response (500 words or
fewer) in the comments here ...
|
Jess Zafarris
Follow @jesszafarris
Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more
than 8 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of
Writer's Digest.
|
|
|
: F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Plus, get a handy
checklist for NaNoWriMo prep!
|
|
|
by Jane K. Cleland
In 1962, Alfred Hitchcock and Francois Truffaut discussed their work during a
marathon session that lasted for days. The two great directors and their French/English
interpreter barely paused for meals. It was during this conversation that
Hitchcock outlined his famous surprise
versus suspense scenario -- the bomb planted in the cafe. He used
this example to demonstrate that, contrary to popular belief, suspense is far
more engaging than surprise.
Here's how it goes:
Say you have a scene where two characters are talking in a cafe, and a bomb suddenly
goes off under the table.
The unexpected action will make the audience experience surprise. Your
readers' emotional and physiological reactions are likely to be similar to
the heart-stopping adrenaline rush a child feels the first time he opens a jack-in-the-box.
Can you remember your first time? If you're like most people, you were
startled, and for a few seconds the experience was all consuming. You didn't
think of anything else; you didn't notice anything else. Your entire focus
was on processing what just happened. That's the power of surprise.
Contrast that experience with this one:
You witness a man approach a
café where two people are drinking coffee, enjoying a pleasant morning chat.
You see the man step behind a column and turn an old-fashioned alarm clock to
1:00. It's taped to a bomb. A clock mounted on a nearby wall informs you it's
12:45. You watch as the clock ticks down the time. Now it's 12:49. The people
keep chatting. Now 12:52. The woman laughs. It's 12:57. They finish their coffee.
And now it's 12:59.
How do you feel now? If you're like most people, you're holding your breath,
waiting for the explosion -- or for a hero to rush in and save the day. This
approach, revealing to the viewer or the reader what's going on while the unsuspecting
characters chatter on, translates into 15 minutes of suspense. All the
immediate explosion bought us was 15 seconds of surprise.
[Don't miss Jane's
sessions at the 2018 Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference in Pasadena, CA,
October 26–28!]
The difference between the immediate explosion and the one we anticipate is
that in the latter example, we were fully informed. While the surprise flared
up, catching you unaware, the suspense slowly burned, drawing you in.
Thus the question arises: If suspense is so much more gripping than surprise,
and if the effect is more lasting, why employ surprise at all? The answer
provides a twofold peek into the writer's toolbox. First, surprise can spark
delight in a reader all on its own, and second, it is one of the most
reliable ways to launch your readers into situations fraught with heightened
tension -- a cornerstone of suspense.
To keep your readers on the edge of their seats, you need to integrate
surprises that lead slowly, inexorably and with deadly calm, to suspense. In
order to do so, you need to understand what makes a surprise effective.
The Anatomy of Surprise
There are good surprises, such as an unanticipated visit from a much-loved
distant friend or relative, and bad surprises, such as an unexpected cancer
diagnosis. Good or bad, all surprises share one key characteristic -- they're
unforeseen. Integrating surprise into your stories can delight, intrigue,
captivate, titillate, move, worry and/or inspire your readers. The trick is
to set up such surprises so they feel fitting,
not merely plunked down for effect. Read More...
|
Advertisement
|
Like the idea of making a living as a writer,
but don't know how to do it?
Sign up to get instant access to our free training webinar: 9-Step Blueprint
for Becoming a Well-Paid Copywriter or Content Writer.
This proven blueprint has been used by thousands of writers to navigate the
abundant opportunity of copy and content projects, and meet the ever-growing
demand for quality writers.
We'll walk you through each step to ensure your success...
If you've been holding back from pursuing your dream of living the writer's
life because you don't know what steps you need to take …
Or, if you have been moving forward, and have gotten stuck...
Or, even if you could just use a little bit of guidance with where you are
right now on the path to well-paid writing...
This training is for you!
Sign up to get instant access here
|
"The exercises conveyed the importance
of creating a visual in your writing -- an image that evokes an emotion or
idea." Erika Hoffman details her experience in a writing workshop that
challenged participants to use tarot cards to generate story ideas through a
series of writing exercises.
Read More...
|
When approaching NaNoWriMo prep (or
NaNonFiWriMo for nonfiction writers), you must create a strategy before the
event to help you maintain a positive and enthusiastic mindset and productive
habits no matter what life throws your way during that 30-day period. Read More...
|
Few authors have better embedded believable
and/or accurate scientific information within an engrossing story like
Michael Crichton. This article explores the tactics Crichton used to craft
realistic science fiction within one of his most popular novels, Sphere. Read More...
|
Readers make snap judgements on what to read
or not read. And they often rely on titles of books, articles, blog posts,
and conference sessions to make those decisions. As such, writers must learn
how to write better titles to find more success with their writing. Robert
Lee Brewer explains how.
Read More...
|
While few authors
have the creative skills to design their own book covers, understanding the
design process and how covers impact sales is critical to working directly
with a freelance designer or your publisher's marketing team, and offering
productive feedback. Learn:
- What
design terms and concepts should all authors be familiar with?
- How
does the book cover design process work for trade and indie authors?
- What
are the differences between cover design for print and ebooks?
- How
can a book cover impact reviews and sales?
Join us live on Wednesday, October 17 at 1
PM EDT for this free Writer's Digest webinar featuring Suanne Laqueur,
Patrick Knowles, Ricardo Fayet and WD's Jess Zafarris to learn everything you
need to know about book cover design, and get insightful tips on how to get
the best covers possible for your books. This webinar is sponsored by Reedsy. Read More...
|
Lost Dog: The
family dog has been missing for weeks, and everyone is devastated (except
that one family member, of course). Suddenly, the dog returns, showing up out
of nowhere. Almost everyone rejoices. But as time goes by, it becomes clear
that something isn't quite right with the beloved canine companion...
Post your response (500 words or
fewer) in the comments here ...
|
Jess Zafarris
Follow @jesszafarris
Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more
than 8 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of
Writer's Digest.
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Make sure you are
prepared for November!
|
|
|
Yes, you can write a draft of your
book in a month! Don’t let limited time, busy lives, or other obstacles get
in your way of writing the book that is in you. A manuscript in 30 days
requires thoughtful preparation, strategic planning, a strong sense of
discipline and loads of enthusiasm—and this live webinar will give you the
concrete tools to achieve your goal. If the only thing that’s holding you
back from getting words on the page is no plan, this webinar has all the
answers.
Literary agent Carly Watters has been coaching authors through first drafts
for a decade and she’ll present a comprehensive strategy to “winning”
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo): a 50,000+ word draft in 30 days.
This webinar is all about volume and getting 1,667+ words written per day.
Whether you’ll be joining a “5am Writers’ Club,” writing during your lunch
breaks at work, or after your kids have gone to sleep—it’s possible for
everyone. The webinar will focus on character sketches, detailed storyboarding,
realistic schedules, and tips to keep up your momentum through the full month
of daily writing.
There will be roadblocks, but you’ll be better positioned to succeed with the
more preparation you can do in advance.
|
All registrants are invited to submit your
first page for critique. Please wait until
after the live webinar date to submit your critique material. This allows
you to make changes to your opening chapter based on the presentation and
will ensure you receive the most helpful critique possible. All submitted first pages are guaranteed a written critique
by Literary Agent and presenter Carly Watters.
|
|
•
|
How to create an overview for your month
of writing
|
•
|
How to stick to a daily word count
|
•
|
Which chapters to flag for future revision
and when to forge on to the next chapter
|
•
|
Tips for setting, and maintaining, a
realistic schedule
|
•
|
Ways to overcome complicated life stuff,
writers’ block and sluggish writing days
|
|
•
|
Writers thinking about National Novel
Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
|
•
|
Writers scheduled to participate in
NaNoWriMo this November
|
•
|
Writers who are writing their first
manuscript ever
|
•
|
Writers who have written a book, but are
looking for a faster-paced schedule this time around
|
|
Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
|
|
|
|
Instructor: Carly
Watters
Carly Watters began her publishing career in
London at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency. She has a BA in
English Literature from Queen’s University and a MA in Publishing Studies
from City University London. Since joining PSLA in 2010 Carly has had great
success launching new authors domestically and abroad.
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Award-winning author
Jane K. Cleland will be teaching a hands-on session on suspense, structure
and plot at WDNWC.
|
|
|
Interested in keeping your audience on the
edge of their seats? Every novel, no matter the genre, can use strong
structure and elements of suspense to keep readers turning pages.
And what better way to learn than with a master of suspense at the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference
in Pasadena!
Agatha Award–winning author Jane K. Cleland will teach the key elements—and
more—from her instructional book, Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot,
on Thursday, Oct. 25, the day before the conference begins.
When you attend the session, you’ll use Jane’s Plotting Roadmap to leave with
a fully developed plotting plan for your novel. Jane will also demonstrate
how to integrate plot twists, plot reversals and moments of heightened danger
at tactically sound moments. These strategic moves can help quicken the pace
and focus the action in your scenes.
This session is available as a standalone ticket for
$199, or as an add-on to your conference registration for just $149.
If you register for the whole conference, be sure to catch Jane’s conference
sessions on Friday: Overcome Writer’s Block and Release Your Inner Muse
and The Art of Distraction: Using Red Herrings.
If you’re interested in Jane’s hands-on session on suspense, structure and
plot, be sure to register soon! It
will sell out!
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Expert Advice for
Writing with Authenticity in Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Other Genres
|
|
|
Free U.S. Shipping Through Oct. 15
|
Science
and technology have starring roles in a wide range of genres—science fiction,
fantasy, thriller, mystery, and more. Unfortunately, many depictions of
technical subjects in literature, film, and television are pure fiction.
Collecting articles from editor Dan Koboldt’s popular blog series for writers
and fans of speculative fiction—plus a collection of never-before-published
articles—Putting the Science
in Fiction connects you to experts in the field. Scientists,
engineers, medical professionals, and others share their insights in order to
debunk the myths, correct the misconceptions, offer advice on getting the
details right, and help writers create more realistic yet engaging stories to
satisfy discerning readers.
This
book helps writers:
- Understand the basic principles of science,
technology, and medicine frequently featured in fiction.
- Avoid common pitfalls and inaccuracies to ensure
technical veracity.
- Write realistic and compelling scientific elements to
captivate readers.
- Brainstorm and develop new science- and
technology-based story ideas.
Whether
writing about mutant monsters, rogue viruses, giant spaceships, or even
murders and espionage, Putting
the Science in Fiction will have something to help every writer
craft better fiction.
And
now through Oct. 15 you can receive free U.S shipping when you order your
copy! Orders are expected to ship mid-October |
*Prices are as marked. Offer applies to free
U.S. standard shipping only. Offer edns 10/15/18 at 11:59 PM. Orders are
expected to ship mid-October
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Make sure you are
prepared for November!
|
|
|
Yes, you can write a draft of your
book in a month! Don’t let limited time, busy lives, or other obstacles get
in your way of writing the book that is in you. A manuscript in 30 days
requires thoughtful preparation, strategic planning, a strong sense of
discipline and loads of enthusiasm—and this live webinar will give you the
concrete tools to achieve your goal. If the only thing that’s holding you
back from getting words on the page is no plan, this webinar has all the
answers.
Literary agent Carly Watters has been coaching authors through first drafts
for a decade and she’ll present a comprehensive strategy to “winning”
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo): a 50,000+ word draft in 30 days.
This webinar is all about volume and getting 1,667+ words written per day.
Whether you’ll be joining a “5am Writers’ Club,” writing during your lunch
breaks at work, or after your kids have gone to sleep—it’s possible for
everyone. The webinar will focus on character sketches, detailed storyboarding,
realistic schedules, and tips to keep up your momentum through the full month
of daily writing.
There will be roadblocks, but you’ll be better positioned to succeed with the
more preparation you can do in advance.
|
All registrants are invited to submit your
first page for critique. Please wait until
after the live webinar date to submit your critique material. This allows
you to make changes to your opening chapter based on the presentation and
will ensure you receive the most helpful critique possible. All submitted first pages are guaranteed a written critique
by Literary Agent and presenter Carly Watters.
|
|
•
|
How to create an overview for your month
of writing
|
•
|
How to stick to a daily word count
|
•
|
Which chapters to flag for future revision
and when to forge on to the next chapter
|
•
|
Tips for setting, and maintaining, a
realistic schedule
|
•
|
Ways to overcome complicated life stuff,
writers’ block and sluggish writing days
|
|
•
|
Writers thinking about National Novel
Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
|
•
|
Writers scheduled to participate in
NaNoWriMo this November
|
•
|
Writers who are writing their first
manuscript ever
|
•
|
Writers who have written a book, but are
looking for a faster-paced schedule this time around
|
|
Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
|
|
|
|
Instructor: Carly
Watters
Carly Watters began her publishing career in
London at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency. She has a BA in
English Literature from Queen’s University and a MA in Publishing Studies
from City University London. Since joining PSLA in 2010 Carly has had great
success launching new authors domestically and abroad.
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Learn tips and
tricks from Jane Friedman
|
|
|
Over the last
decade, the publishing industry has undergone tremendous evolution due to the
growth of online retail and digital books, as well as the power of any author
to publish and distribute their work at the click of a button. But which path
is right for you and your book—and how do you sift through the increasing
number of hybrid publishers and services that make a lot of promises, but
cost you a lot upfront?
Jane Friedman discusses everything you need to know about how book publishing
operates today, in plain English, to help you understand the pros and cons of
every major publishing path available. She'll cover New York traditional
publishing and what projects are well-suited to being represented by literary
agents; the capabilities of mid-size publishers and independent publishers;
how to evaluate small presses, micro-presses, and digital-only presses; what
"hybrid" publishing is (or thinks it is) and how to evaluate such
companies; and all forms of self-publishing and e-publishing practiced today.
|
•
|
About the traditional publishing process,
how it's different from self-publishing, and how long you can expect any
process to take
|
•
|
What type of contract, advance and royalty
you can expect with all types of publishers and services
|
•
|
What is expected when it comes to the
marketing and promotion of your work for every type of publishing path
|
•
|
What a query letter is and why you want a
literary agent
|
|
•
|
Writers new to the book publishing
industry
|
•
|
Writers who aren't sure how to publish
their next project
|
•
|
Anyone confused by the many publishing
options available
|
•
|
Anyone seeking to better understand the
publishing industry
|
|
Thursday October 18, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
|
|
|
|
Instructor: Jane
Friedman
Jane Friedman spent 15 years working inside
the traditional publishing industry and is the former publisher of Writer’s
Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and an
instructor with the Authors Guild, she is a professor with The Great Courses
on the topic of how to get published.
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Register now -
citique included!
|
|
|
Middle Grade is one
of the most popular, and fastest growing categories, in the publishing
industry. For many, middle grade novels are childhood favorites that stick
with us for decades-whether these stories are realistic portrayals of life or
fantastical escapes from the mundane. Middle Grade is a competitive market,
and it's a difficult category to master. There are many expectations
surrounding voice, character, content, and structure that go along with
writing middle grade novels. How can you make your manuscript stand out in
the crowded middle grade market? And how can you catch the attention of a literary
agent with your manuscript?
Mastering Middle Grade: Writing, Revising, and Pitching Your Middle Grade
Manuscript covers the most important topics to keep in mind while writing and
revising middle grade novels, as well as the process of writing a query
letter that will effectively pitch your manuscript and entice literary
agents. This live webinar includes a live presentation, a Q&A session, a
critique of your query letter and the first 1000 words of your manuscript,
and downloadable worksheets that will help you write, revise, and pitch your
manuscript long after the webinar is over.
|
All registrants are invited to submit your
query letter and the first 1000 words of your manuscript for critique. Please wait until after the live webinar date to submit your
critique material. This allows you to make changes to your opening chapter
based on the presentation and will ensure you receive the most helpful
critique possible All submitted
query letters and first 1000 words are guaranteed a written critique by
Literary Agent Maria Vicente. Maria reserves the right to request more
writing from attendees by e-mail following the event, if she deems the
query excellent.
|
|
•
|
The common elements of a middle grade
novel
|
•
|
The appropriate word count for middle
grade manuscripts of all genres
|
•
|
How to create engaging and diverse middle
grade characters
|
•
|
What a query letter is and why you want a
literary agent
|
•
|
The best resources to bookmark as you
continue writing, revising, and pitching
|
|
•
|
Writers who want to better understand the
middle grade category
|
•
|
Writers looking for publishing resources
|
•
|
Writers interested in writing unique,
adventurous worlds for children
|
•
|
Writers interested in writing compelling,
diverse characters for children
|
|
Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
|
|
|
|
Instructor: Maria
Vicente
Maria Vicente is a literary agent at the
P.S. Literary Agency. She is a creative and editorial agent, providing
support to her clients through all stages of the writing and publication
process. Maria is dedicated to managing authors' literary brands for the
duration of their careers. Her reading preferences vary across categories and
genres, which is reflected in her client list.
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Enter one of 6
categories for a chance at $2,500.
|
|
|
What’s your genre as
a writer? Do you enjoy writing a twisty thriller? Or the tender moments of a
romance? Maybe you love the world building of science fiction.
Whatever your forte,
it’s as much of a challenge to craft a short story as it is a sprawling
novel. And that’s exactly your challenge—should you choose to accept it!
Craft your best
story in 4,000 words or less, in one of six popular genres—thriller/suspense,
science fiction/fantasy, young adult, romance, horror or mystery/crime—and
have a shot at winning $2,500! Plus, you’ll also get to travel to New York
City for the Writer’s Digest Conference!
Each first-place
category winner receives $500, and each winner will be published on
WritersDigest.com.
That’s a lot of
cash—and a lot of recognition. But it’s the type of recognition that you crave
as a writer; recognition that can help make you popular.
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Stop writer's block
before it starts!
|
|
|
Free U.S. Shipping - No Coupon Needed
|
Whether
you’re looking for a boost of inspiration or a writing prompt to get your day
started, the Writer’s Digest 2019 Daily Calendar has everything any writer
needs to get their creative juices flowing.
And now through Oct.
19 you can receive free U.S shipping when you order your copy!
|
*Prices are as marked. Offer applies to free
U.S. standard shipping only. Offer edns 10/19/18 at 11:59 PM
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Three New York
Times bestsellers talk shop.
|
|
|
If you’re a novelist, there’s no event more
perfect for you than the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Conference
on October 26-28
in Pasadena.
There’s also no better trio of keynote speakers we could have assembled.
While you’ll benefit from the completely customizable schedule, opportunities
to network with fellow writers, and kick back at the Halloween-themed costume
party on Saturday night, listening to three New York Times bestselling
authors will be a highlight of the event!
From crime to young
adult to literary, these three are can’t miss speakers:
Robert Crais
With 20 crime novels under his belt, Crais’s books have landed on the New
York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists. He also spent
years writing scripts for such major television series as Hill Street
Blues, Cagney & Lacey, and Miami Vice.
|
Curtis Sittenfeld
The author of five novels and a short story collection, Sittenfeld’s books
have sold 1.6 million copies. Her short story collection, You Think It,
I’ll Say It, is being adapted into a miniseries produced by Reese
Witherspoon.
|
Nicola Yoon
Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything,
Everything, now a major motion picture, and The Sun Is Also a Star,
which has been optioned for film by MGM and Warner Bros. Studio.
|
Teeming with anticipation to hear their
wisdom? We are too!
See you there!
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Plus, learn what
everyone gets wrong about the writing life.
|
|
|
|
Writing requires three layers of mastery.
First, a writer must
learn to master stories.
People may think in stories, talk in stories, read and watch and hear stories
all day long, but life itself, the thing about which we are always telling
stories, has no beginning, middle, or end. Life doesn't see protagonists or
antagonists, doesn't value one experience over the other. In fact, life
doesn't even recognize adjectives and adverbs: It's made of nothing but nouns
and verbs.
And yet the writer must learn to look at life, at the great teaming,
streaming, swarm of things and thoughts and people and creatures and pull
from it a fraction of what he or she sees and string the most interesting
characters and ideas and events together in the most compelling way he or she
can. The writer knows the stories are illusions in a way, and yet these
inventions, brief as they are, have the capacity to remind us of the whole of
life. There is no formula for how best to do this. Instead, the writer must
spend his or her days asking and asking and asking this question: What is so interesting about what
interests me? The answer is a story.
Next, a writer must
master what we call craft.
Writers translate life, a three-dimensional and five-sensory experience, into
nothing but words, which are themselves nothing but thoughts. Every other art
form directly engages at least one of our five senses. Writers don't get
sound, or motion, or touch, or color, or shape. The writer must be interested
in this unique translation, must be willing to leave his or her body behind
for a time, leave behind the unshakable limitations of time and space for the
limitless, formless silence of the imagination. Read More...
|
Advertisement
|
Whether you want to earn a little money on the side or get
paid handsome fees on a regular basis, making a living as a well-paid writer
couldn't get any easier… even if you don't have any prior experience. Not
available on Amazon or anywhere else, The Little Black Book of In-Demand
Writing Careers reveals the 9 most in-demand ways to write your way to
success.
Perfect for writers of
all levels of experience.
Take Pat McCord, a once
struggling novelist who now has 15 titles published… all because she was able
to “write away” her financial worries and focus on her passion of writing.
You can find out how she did it and turn your dream of writing into a
reality.
Download
your FREE copy of The Little Black Book of In-Demand Writing Careers here.
|
Now that you've published a book, you can
afford that fancy NYC loft, right? Emily Bleeker clears up a few common and
hilarious misconceptions about writers. Read More...
|
Literature comforts in a way clinical definitions
and diagnoses cannot. It can help people recognize the symptoms of mental
illness in themselves long before the predator of suicide pounces. Kristen
Davis Schwandes explains why it is vitally important for writers to
accurately portray the thought processes involved in mental illness. Read More...
|
Until 11:59 p.m. (Central time) on October
15, 2018, Robert Lee Brewer will be accepting pitches for articles in the
2020 editions of Writer’s
Market and Guide
to Literary Agents. Learn what he's seeking, what he likes and
how to submit.
Read More...
|
After writing two very different
manuscripts, Marie Unanue sent them out to kids and their parents, who acted
as beta readers, along with a survey. The process resulted in her final early
reader chapter book.
Read More...
|
Enter the latest Your Story writing contest:
Write a short story, of 650 words or fewer, based on the image for a chance
to appear in Writer's Digest magazine.
You can be funny, poignant, witty, etc.; it is, after all, your story. Read More...
|
The Athlete: Think of an athlete, coach or other sporting-type person
you've met before. Using this person as a springboard, identify the following
qualities about them and then incorporate these qualities into a character in
a story: physical body type, style of walking, usual outfit, reaction under
stress, non-athletic passion.
Post your response (500 words or fewer) in the comments here ...
|
Jess Zafarris
Follow @jesszafarris
Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more
than 8 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of
Writer's Digest.
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
"Wonderful
course! I accomplished far more than I imagined!" -DH
|
|
|
Dive into the world
of writing and learn all 12 steps needed to complete a first draft. In this
writing workshop you will tackle the steps to writing a book, learn effective
writing techniques along the way, and of course, begin writing your first
draft.
You'll take an in-depth look at Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird as well as
more contemporary novels such as Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones and
Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge. When you take this workshop, you will
learn invaluable tips on writing a book and receive detailed instruction
through weekly lessons and writing assignments.
In the workshop, you will be able to finish either a decently developed half
draft (of half of your novel) or a rough “in-progress" full draft.
However, you'll learn all the tools needed to complete the full first draft.
At the end of this workshop, you will have accomplished every writer's goal –
an “in-progress" working first draft.
|
•
|
How to use effective writing techniques to
start the first draft of your novel
|
•
|
How to create a 12-week plan for writing a
first draft of a novel
|
•
|
How to pace your novel
|
•
|
How to weave literary elements such as
plot, character, setting, style, exposition, dialogue, and tension within
your novel
|
|
•
|
Aspiring novelists who want a published
author to coach them
|
•
|
Writers who want to learn the 12 elements
needed in a rough draft of their novel
|
•
|
Writers who want to get a solid start on
the first draft of their novel
|
|
•
|
"Outstanding
teacher! Wonderful course! I accomplished far more than I imagined!
"" -DH
|
•
|
"Miki helped
me identify my weaknesses as a writer. I’m grateful that she did." -DM
|
|
This Thursday, October 18, 2018 - January 10, 2019
|
|
|
|
Instructor: G. Miki
Hayden
G. Miki Hayden has published mystery,
science fiction, and young adult novels with a rave review in the New York Times for her
alternate history novel, Pacific
Empire. Miki has published a steady stream of short fiction in
several genres.
|
Additional Courses Starting Oct. 18:
|
EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
Experience the
education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live writing
conference from the comfort of home!
|
|
|
Writer's Digest
University is pleased to present an exclusive virtual conference for
freelance writers! On November 3 and 4, our Freelance Virtual Conference will
provide expert insights from SIX accomplished freelance writers and authors
on the finer points of freelance writing. Spend the weekend learning the
business of freelance writing. Learn what you need to succeed as a freelance
writer including a proper understanding of the writing landscape, specific
tips and techniques for gaining traction and getting ahead, how to get
assignments that pay, and much more.
Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live
writing conference without ever having to leave your home!
|
EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
|
|
|
F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment