Here are the latest Writer's Digest newsletters for my followers to peruse:
Our most prestigious
award will have almost 500 winners.
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For 88 years,
Writer’s Digest has been looking for and shining the light on new and
up-and-coming writers in any genre or category.
And it’s that time
again—we’re looking for writing that strikes and grabs us, that we can’t put
down. We’re looking for standout writing in any and all of the following
categories:
- inspirational/spiritual
- memoirs/personal essays
- print or online article
- genre short story (think romance, thriller, mystery,
sci-fi, etc.)
- mainstream/literary short story
- rhyming poetry
- non-rhyming poetry
- script (think stage play or television/movie script)
- children’s/young adult fiction
That’s a lot of
options, but we’re sure something you’ve written or are writing will fit in.
And we’ve seen a wide range of winners in the past several years. Just be
sure to check our website for entry details—we have strict word count
restrictions for each category.
So, how will this
competition help you? That’s easy. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000
in cash, a trip to New York City for the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference,
and an interview for a feature article in our magazine. Nine first place
winners in each category receive $1,000, nine second place winners in each
category win $500, and on and on!
Ready to be the next
writer we spotlight? Enter by May 6
for the best price!
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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See what an agent
thinks of your mystery/thriller!
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Writer's Digest
University is pleased to present an exclusive online event for mystery and
thriller writers! On April 13th and 14th, our 5th Annual Mystery and Thriller Virtual Conference
will provide expert insights from SEVEN award-winning and best-selling
authors on the finer points of how to write within the mystery and thriller
genres. Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft from
seven different published authors*, then (if you choose) pitch your novel via
query letter to a literary agent specifically looking for material in the
mystery or thriller genre. The agent will provide you with a personalized
critique of your query – and maybe ask to see more.
Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live
writing conference without ever having to leave your home!
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All participants will benefit from:
- SEVEN
all-new, one-hour webinar presentations provided by award-winning and
bestselling mystery & thriller authors*,
all examining different aspects of writing novels in these genres. Each
session will include an opportunity for live Q&A with the authors!
- A
critique (with written feedback) of your query letter from an agent with
experience in the mystery and thriller genres.
- A
bonus 90-minute On
Demand webinar covering how to write a query letter so
you're prepared when pitching your novel to agents. (A $79.99 value!)
- The
ability to network
with mystery and thriller writers via discussion boards
that will be open throughout the weekend. Share ideas, and even your
work if you choose.
- Unlimited
OnDemand viewing! All conference sessions will
be made available for download in the week following the live
presentations. Even if you can't attend every session live, you will be
able to view each lecture on your own whenever you choose.
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Pitch Your Mystery
or Thriller Novel to a Literary Agent
Join us for the live event and have a chance to get written feedback on your
query letter from a literary agent who works with mystery or thriller authors
(or both). Participating agents include Sharon Pelletier (Dystel &
Goderich Literary Management), Victoria Cappello (The Bent Agency), and Jess
Dallow (Brower Literary & Management).
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April, 12 - April 14, 2019
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Sharon Pelletier |
Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
Sharon Pelletier joined Dystel, Goderich
& Bourret in 2013 after working for Europa Editions and Barnes &
Noble. At DG&B, in addition to growing her own client list, Sharon
oversees digital projects and social media. While her interests include
upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction, in the suspense realm Sharon is
seeking fresh literary thrillers and unexpected procedurals. She particularly
encourages submissions from marginalized writers of suspense fiction.
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Victoria Cappello |
The Bent Agency
Victoria Cappello grew up in Queens, New
York and studied at the City University of New York, Queens College where she
received a degree in Media Studies. Prior to joining the Bent Agency in 2012,
Victoria worked at both Serendipity Literary Agency and the Carol Mann
Agency. Her list includes both commercial and literary fiction as well as
nonfiction titles. Her favorite genres are historical fiction, suspense,
mysteries, and upmarket women’s fiction.
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Jess Dallow | Brower
Literary & Management
Having grown up with the same name as her
favorite Sweet Valley High twin, Jess Dallow has always had a love for books.
She has a BFA in Writing for Film and Television from the University of the
Arts and worked in entertainment for eight years before returning to her home
state of NY. She has worked at Brower Literary & Management for the past
couple of years.
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Plus, help us
celebrate 100 years of Writer's Digest.
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In this edition of the Writer's Digest
newsletter, learn what it takes to authentically and respectfully write
characters whose experiences are outside of your own. Plus, help us celebrate
100 years of Writer's Digest, and discover exciting news about our upcoming
conference.
– Jess Zafarris
Follow @jesszafarris
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Representation in Fiction
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How to Write Characters Whose Experiences Are
Outside of Your Own
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As
publishing endeavors to address inclusion and diverse representation in
fiction, an inevitable question arises: Can authors write characters whose
experience is outside of their own?
Questions of representation in literature are a tale as old as time, coupled
with that other great conundrum: How can we write about experiences outside
of our own? The best fiction has the ability to transport readers into
another’s shoes and make readers consider a new perspective. And while the
question of writing the Other is evergreen, the assessment of how to do so
successfully is an ever-evolving story.
When I think about why writing across difference is so important, I remember
my childhood and how books changed my perception of the world and of myself.
Two specific books were a huge influence -- Laurence Yep’s 1982 novel Dragon of the Lost Sea and
George Seldon’s 1960 book The
Cricket in Times Square -- but between them, their treatment of
Chinese characters and culture couldn’t be more different. Yep spent much time
doing research into Chinese myths and legends before even taking up the
project, and I was completely swept away by the adventures of the dragon
princess Shimmer and the human orphan Thorn on their quest to restore the
Inland Sea. The Cricket in
Times Square, on the other hand, featured racist stereotypes: Sai
Fong, who teaches the newspaper boy Mario about the importance of crickets in
Chinese culture, speaks with a broad transliterated accent and works out of a
derelict laundromat. Mario and his family benefit from talented Chester the
cricket, while Sai Fong remains a mystical minor character.
While both books were praised during their time, The Cricket in Times Square sent a certain
message about Asian characters: We all talked in broken English, held ignoble
jobs and acted only in service to the white characters. Yep’s story, however,
showed how characters who looked like me could be heroes, and demonstrated
that not all fantasies must take place in medieval Europe.
Several lessons for today’s authors can be drawn here. One is that writers
are capable of composing stories that uplift the marginalized (or,
alternatively, ones that push them down). The second is that while Seldon
might not have realized how racist his portrayal was, and certainly the mostly
white literary community of the time didn’t either, it doesn’t excuse the
fact that the book has biased content. Finally, a third lesson is the
understanding that writing effective diverse stories is a skill that can be learned. Later on
in high school, I picked up Robert Olen Butler’s 1992 short story collection,
“A Good Scent From a Strange
Mountain.” I was astounded by the way Butler captured life in the
Vietnamese immigrant community, which resonated with my own family
experiences. Writing the Other is possible. It’s simply a matter of doing so
respectfully, and responsibly. Read More...
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Write Better. Get Published.
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How has Writer’s
Digest impacted your writing? Share your favorite memories with us to help us
celebrate our 100-year anniversary in 2020 -- your response could appear in a
future issue of the magazine! Read More...
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These mobile apps
for writers, compiled by Jess Zafarris and Cassie Lipp, represent some of the
best tools you can use on your mobile device for productivity, writing
inspiration, community and more. Read More...
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Bryan E. Robinson,
Ph.D., author of #CHILL:
Turn Off Your Job and Turn On Your Life, offers several tips
inspired by the book for mindfulness and mental fitness during the pressures
of the writing process. Read More...
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Watching a film
unfold where the theme plays into every character and every subplot is an
incredible experience. Bryan Young opines that no screenplay in recent memory
does this as well as Rian Johnson’s blueprint for The Last Jedi. It’s a Swiss watch of theme
and character. Read More...
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Think of an
alternative vampire that survives on something other than blood. Write a
story or scene based on this character. Read More...
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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. Read More...
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Save on writing
resources year round
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Exclusive Writer's
Digest VIP members have access to year around savings. Whether you are
looking to improve your writing, get published, or simply fuel your passion,
the VIP program is for you. Become a member today and start saving!
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One-year subscription to Writer's Digest
magazine (retail value: $47.92 [US])
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One-year of online access to
WritersMarket.com (retail value: $39.99)
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Access to THREE online instructional
writing presentations (retail value: $157.99)
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10% off Writer's Digest University workshops
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20% off Writer's Digest Competition entries
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10% off eligible products from Writer's Digest Shop
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15% off Writer's Digest Tutorial subscriptions
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Free standard
shipping on U.S. orders
from the Writer's Digest Shop
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What VIP Members Are
Saying...
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"I have been
writing fiction for years now and I have to say, I really like the VIP
program because it gives me a variety of tools to improve my writing. One
day I can choose to read the latest issue of Writer's Digest magazine, and
the next I can opt to listen to a well-known author talk about how to get
published. Being a VIP has helped me really focus on my work and learn a
lot about writing."
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Become a VIP member today and save 73% off retail!
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Your Price: $49.95
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Are you ready to
meet your agent?
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When you imagine yourself sitting across
from an agent or editor, ready to pitch the book you’ve been crafting to
perfection, how do you feel?
Empowered? Prepared? A little fluttering of nerves mixed with waves of
excitement?
That’s the feeling you’ll have at WDC19’s Pitch Slam!
Everything at the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference—from the
inspirational and successful speakers to the carefully curated programming—is designed to help you
achieve your writing goals. We want you to have a meaningful and positive
experience, and the Pitch Slam is a big part of that—a unique opportunity to
receive insightful feedback, actionable advice and potentially get a request
to submit a formal proposal for more than 50 agents and editors who are actively
looking for new authors!
If you’ve decided this is the year for you and your book, don’t hesitate.
Finalize your 2019 registration today and lock in your Pitch Slam slot.
PS: Not familiar with the Pitch Slam? Learn more about how it works.
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Learn from 7
award-winning authors of mystery and thriller
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Writer's Digest
University is pleased to present an exclusive online event for mystery and
thriller writers! On April 13th and 14th, our 5th Annual Mystery and Thriller Virtual Conference
will provide expert insights from SEVEN award-winning and best-selling
authors on the finer points of how to write within the mystery and thriller
genres. Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft from
seven different published authors*, then (if you choose) pitch your novel via
query letter to a literary agent specifically looking for material in the
mystery or thriller genre. The agent will provide you with a personalized
critique of your query – and maybe ask to see more.
Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live
writing conference without ever having to leave your home!
|
All participants will benefit from:
- SEVEN
all-new, one-hour webinar presentations provided by award-winning and
bestselling mystery & thriller authors*,
all examining different aspects of writing novels in these genres. Each
session will include an opportunity for live Q&A with the authors!
- A
critique (with written feedback) of your query letter from an agent with
experience in the mystery and thriller genres.
- A
bonus 90-minute On
Demand webinar covering how to write a query letter so
you're prepared when pitching your novel to agents. (A $79.99 value!)
- The
ability to network
with mystery and thriller writers via discussion boards
that will be open throughout the weekend. Share ideas, and even your
work if you choose.
- Unlimited
OnDemand viewing! All conference sessions will
be made available for download in the week following the live
presentations. Even if you can't attend every session live, you will be
able to view each lecture on your own whenever you choose.
|
Pitch Your Mystery
or Thriller Novel to a Literary Agent
Join us for the live event and have a chance to get written feedback on your
query letter from a literary agent who works with mystery or thriller authors
(or both).
|
Thursday, April 12 - April 14, 2019
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Instructor: James
Scott Bell
JAMES SCOTT BELL is a winner of the
International Thriller Writers Award and the author of numerous bestsellers.
He served as fiction columnist for Writer's Digest magazine and has written
many popular craft books, including Plot & Structure, Conflict & Suspense,
Just Write, and Write Your Novel From the Middle. He attended the University
of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver,
and graduated with honors from the University of Southern California law
school.
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Instructor: Larry
Brooks
Larry Brooks is the author of four Writers
Digest books on fiction craft, including the bestselling STORY ENGINEERING,
named by Signaturereads.com as the third best writing book of the modern era.
He is a frequent speaker at WD events and other conferences, and his website,
www.storyfix.com, is a well-known
resource for authors at all levels of the fiction trade. His new WD book, THE
CRITERIA-DRIVEN NOVELIST, will be released Fall 2019.
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Instructor: Jane K.
Cleland
Jane K. Cleland writes the multiple
award-winning and bestselling Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries [St. Martin’s
Minotaur]. The 13th in the series, Hidden Treasure, will be published
in spring 2020. Her short stories are published by Alfred Hitchcock
Mystery Magazine. Jane also writes about the craft of writing, including
the Agatha award-nominated Mastering Plot Twists and the Agatha
Award-winning and bestselling Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot,
both from Writer’s Digest Books. She is also a Contributing Editor for
Writer’s Digest Magazine and chairs the Wolfe Pack’s Black Orchid Novella
Award in partnership with AHMM.
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Instructor: Gar
Anthony Haywood
GAR ANTHONY HAYWOOD is the Shamus and
Anthony award-winning author of twelve crime novels, and has been called by Booklist
"a writer who has always belonged in the upper echelon of American crime
fiction." His short fiction has been included in the "Best American
Mystery Stories" and anthologies, and he has written for network
television and both the New York Times and Los Angeles Time.
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Instructor: Naomi
Hirahara
Naomi Hirahara is the Edgar Award-winning
author of two mystery series set in Southern California. Her Mas Arai series,
which features a Hiroshima survivor and gardener, ended with the publication
of HIROSHIMA BOY in 2018. The books have been translated into Japanese,
Korean and French. The first in her Officer Ellie Rush bicycle cop mystery
series received the T. Jefferson Parker Mystery Award. She has also published
noir short stories, middle-grade fiction and nonfiction history books. Her
new mystery set in Hawai’i, ICED IN PARADISE, will be released in September
2019.
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Instructor: Paula
Munier
Paula Munier is an agent and authors whose
roots in the mystery writing community run deep. As Senior Literary Agent and
Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary, she specializes in crime
fiction, representing many great crime writers. She’s author of the Mercy
Carr series, the first of which, A BORROWING OF BONES, was just nominated for
the Mary Higgins Clark Award. The second in the series, BLIND SEARCH, will be
published in Fall 2019. She’s also written three popular books on writing:
the bestselling Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings,
and Writing with Quiet Hands.
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Instructor: Hank
Phillippi Ryan
Hank Phillippi Ryan is the on-air
investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV. She's won 34 EMMYs and dozens
more journalism honors. The nationally bestselling author of 11 mysteries,
Ryan's also an award-winner in her second profession—with five Agathas, three
Anthonys, two Macavitys, the Daphne, and for The Other Woman, the
coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award.
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Enter by April 1,
2019. You could win cash, prizes and a trip to the Writer's Digest
Conference.
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What’s up for grabs?
National recognition, a nice cash prize, coverage in Writer’s Digest and
more!
- $8,000 in cash
- A feature article about you and your book in the
March/April 2020 issue of Writer’s Digest
- A paid trip to the ever-popular Writer’s Digest
Conference
- AND more!
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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Celebrating this
category for Women's History Month.
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by Anne Leigh
Parrish
What is Women’s Fiction? Before I answer that, let me say that I’m always
suspicious of putting titles into neat genres. Identifying genres is useful
for agents when they’re pitching your manuscript to a publisher. It’s also
helpful for bookstores who need to know what shelf to put your book on.
Mystery? Thriller? Science Fiction? I write literary fiction, and that’s hard
to devote an entire shelf to, though I could easily fill one with titles from
my own private library.
Accepting that we sometimes must think of our work as belonging to one or
more genres then, Women’s Fiction is fiction by women, about women. That
covers a lot of territory, and yet has traditionally been looked down on by
the publishing world as having less merit than what men write about. What
else is new?
But, if you know Women’s Fiction is for you, here are my five tips for
crafting a good story:
1. Embrace the genre.
Never see it as less worthy than a high-stakes political thriller or murder
mystery. Consider the fantastic female protagonists you’ve met in the pages
of powerful novels -- Jane Eyre, Olive Kitteridge, Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale, Jo in
Little Women, and
even Gone With Wind’s
Scarlett O’Hara and her sidekick, Melanie Hamilton. These aren’t weak women.
Their lives are far from dull. They take matters into their own hands and
shape their own futures. Often compromised by men, they ultimately prevail.
Read some women authors you don’t know. Some of my recommended titles, in
addition to those mentioned above are Mrs.
Dalloway by Virginia Woolf; The
London Train by Tessa Hadley; LaRose
by Louise Erdrich; and the short story collection Mendocino Fire by Elizabeth Tallent. Believe
me, these will inspire you!
2. Focus on setting.
For my heroines, this tends to be the home. Houses are important to me -- how
rooms are arranged, what the windows are like, what one sees out those
windows. I prefer a suburban or rural setting, but a cityscape is
interesting, too. Consider a single protagonist, living in an apartment
building, lying awake, hearing footsteps on the ceiling. Wherever you put you
character, know what she finds important in her immediate surroundings and why.
Be as detailed as you can without overwhelming the reader with things she
doesn’t really need to know. Having a garden says a lot about someone, but
whether she plants dahlias or lilies doesn’t really matter. Decide if she’s
tidy, or neat, since these habits say a lot about how she feels about the
place she lives in. And lastly, how much does she share that space? If she
lives alone, does she have people in? And if she doesn’t live alone, has she
carved out a room or nook that is hers alone? Read More...
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or nearly 100 years,
Writer’s Digest magazine has been the leading authority for writers of all
genres and career levels. And now, for the first time ever, we’ve digitized
decades of issues from our prestigious archives to share with the world. In
this, the first of our series of archive collections, discover exclusive
historic interviews with classic women authors including Maya Angelou, Pearl
S. Buck, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates and Joan Didion -- and much, much
more. Featuring five stunning issues spanning more than 60 years, this
collection is perfect for writers, literary enthusiasts, educators and
historians. Explore
what’s inside here.
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F+W, 10151
Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA
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