Writer's Digest newsletters

Here are the latest Writer's Digest newsletters for my followers to peruse:

. Writer's Dig Publishing Insights WD University Yesterday was Election Day in the United States and marks one year before the highly anticipated, already contentious 2020 presidential election. So, when we found the article, "What Is the Writer's Social Responsibility?" from our January 1970 issue, and recognized its continued relevance, we had to share it with you. -Amy Follow @AmyMJones_5 Vintage WD What Is the Writer's Social Responsibility? By Norman Cousins, Writer’s Digest January 1970 When I refer to the social responsibility of the writer, I do not mean to suggest that he must be preoccupied with urban decay, teenage acidheads, thermonuclear warheads, and population bomb. What I do mean is that the writer should try to keep his windows and his options open. That is, he should not separate himself from major social influences. Whatever his literary field or approach, he will be a better writer if he is properly sensitive to the principle issues of the times. An author—whether novelist, essayist, or poet—should write out of the richest possible mix: a mix that should by all means include a keen awareness of the main forces at play in the world. The writer’s mind is, or should be, a kind of burning lens that bends inward and brings to a white-hot focus a great variety of previously unconnected facts, experiences, and impressions. The wider the cone of rays he brings to that focus, the more heat, light, and penetrating power he is likely to generate. To me, then, the sin is not failure to write explicitly about this or that major social fact; the sin is, rather, to be so completely unaware of the phenomenon’s importance that the question never comes up. It is also a sin, of course, to be perfectly aware of such facts, but to avoid them in one’s writing because the fashionable subject this year is something else, or because Big Brother does not want certain things mentioned out loud. Read the full article... Unlock the potential of your manuscript! Helga Schier, PhD, published author and professional editor offers effective, personalized, constructive and comprehensive editorial services. Contact:helga@withpenandpaper.com, www.withpenandpaper.com, 310.828.8421 What's New 5 Thoughts on How to Use Place to Move Your Story Forward Author Jane Bernstein shares five thoughts on how to use place to move your story forward by showing how setting affects characters and characters affect setting. Read More... 8 Debbie Macomber Quotes for Writers Enjoy 8 Debbie Macomber quotes about writing including the goals she has for her books and readers, and a bit of motivation for writers who have busy families. Read More... Exploring the Roots of Evil, a New Series A Script Magazine Feature Heather Taylor gives an overview of Evil, a new CBS series by the Robert and Michelle King, featured at the 2019 Tribeca TV Festival in New York City, by analyzing the antagonists, considering the expanding world of the series, and understanding how the show delves into the many facets of evilness. Read More... Lesser of Two Evils Writer's Digest Weekly Writing Prompt A knock on your door reveals a stranger who hands you their business card, claiming they are The Lesser of Two Evils. Write a scene or story that reveals what happens next. Start Writing... Mastering Amazon for Authors Writer's Digest University If you are looking for a way to easily navigate Amazon and sell more of your books, be sure to register for this week's premium online course with Rob Eager. Not only have over 175 authors benefitted from this course, you will gain two special bonuses when you purchase today. Register Now...  Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301

. Writer's Dig Publishing Insights WD University With Halloween imminently upon us let's take this as one more opportunity to enjoy the unsettling parts of writing. For some of you that may be reading suspense stories (you'll find a few of my recommendations below), or outlining (if you're not used to it), or connecting with literary agents (try Twitter!). If you want to create something to unsettle others, give this week's writing prompt a try! -Amy Follow @AmyMJones_5 Improve Your Writing With Reading 17 Suspense Stories to Read This Halloween I can’t watch horror movies and I can’t read horror books. The jump-out-to-try-to-scare-the-audience/reader tactic works a little too well on me. But, give me a great suspense story or film in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock and I’m sold. I’m talking about books that give you an underlying sense of dread, perhaps due to something supernatural (or at least supernatural feeling until it’s explained away in the conclusion), or those books where you know things could go very wrong, very quickly. In these types of suspenseful stories the author creates an atmosphere where the protagonist perhaps loses their ability to think rationally because of unsettling circumstances or ghost stories they're told, but Freddy Kruger and his ilk don’t ever make an appearance. The characters’ own imaginations get the better of them for a period of time and readers come away both entertained and amazed at the tricks the mind can play on otherwise rational people. This Halloween, curl up with one of these disturbing, perhaps discomforting, suspense stories. No one will jump out and yell “Gotcha!” But you may think twice about the scratching at the window or the sound behind the door. Read the full article... What's New Why Outlining Is Writing New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist S.C. Gwynne shares the secret to a high-quality nonfiction writing: spending time on an outline. He says, "One of the most common questions I am asked, and one of the most perplexing, is: How much time do I spend writing each day? I always try to be polite and circumspect when answering, but it is hard not to reply with another question: How do you define 'writing?'" Read More... 25 Literary Agents to Follow on Twitter One easy way to keep track of literary agents on a daily basis is to find and follow them on Twitter. Besides gaining a deeper understanding of the likes and dislikes of specific literary agents, following agents on Twitter often leads to a better understanding of the publishing business and trends in the industry in general. Follow these 25 literary agents on Twitter to learn about their interests specifically and the business of writing in general. Read More... Script Secrets: Slow Burns Are Still on Fire A Script Magazine Feature William C. Martell dives into what a “slow burn” movie is by analyzing horror films, including Midsommar, which was recently re-released. Read More... The Elusive Demon Writer's Digest Weekly Writing Prompt You are a ghost or demon who is about to be exorcised. How will you avoid this horrid fate? Start Writing... Writing the Picture Book Writer's Digest University Picture books are one of the most delightful—and important—genres in all of literature. In this course, you'll learn how to write a winning picture book narrative, envision it with illustrations, and put together a picture book package that a publisher will really notice. Register Now... | Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301

Writer's Dig Publishing Insights WD University Why do you write? One answer I hear often is "because I have to." Sure, many of us would be unhappy if we weren't able to put pen to paper or clack away on the keyboard. But when you go deeper than that and really consider why writing is interesting enough to you that you'd be unhappy not doing it—what are those reasons? George Orwell wrote his answer in the 1946 essay "Why I Write" and below you'll see the modern day take on the essay by writer Keith Wain.  -Amy Follow @AmyMJones_5 Revisiting George Orwell Why I Write in the 21st Century We had just ended a productive critique group. Each of us had taken our turn lauding each other’s writing strengths and gently prodding the open sores of our stories. I am fortunate to have a critique group wherein discussions are valuable and enjoyable. Nonetheless, over the past few months I have left the group feeling disheartened and hassled by a punky little question: Why do I keep writing? Until recently, I had been able to keep this question at bay, assuring myself with trite expressions like Persistence spares no idling. Or the dreamier, I have a story to tell. Sometimes I kept it practical with I want to write well, so I must keep practicing. But I have been a successful writer only in that I have finished many writing projects I started. So why do I, why do most writers, want to write? Read the full article... What's New 5 Tips for Building a House or Setting That Comes Alive for Readers Author D.M. Pulley shares her five tips for building a house or setting that comes alive for readers based off her experience working as a structural engineer. Read More... 7 Michael Connelly Quotes About Writing for Writers "When I start a draft, I write every day so the story never leaves my head. And it can leave your head if you take even a weekend off." Read more inspirational Michael Connelly quotes about writing from his two previous WD interviews. Read More... Techniques to Elevate Your Writing A Script Magazine Feature Barri Evins interviews writers David Diamond & David Weissman, revealing their unique techniques that elevate scripts and propelled them to career success. Read More... The Sweetest Story Writer's Digest Weekly Writing Prompt October wouldn't be complete without a writing prompt about candy! Write a scene or a story that includes a piece of candy. Start Writing ... Mastering Amazon for Authors Writer's Digest University Enroll in one of the most popular courses in Writer’s Digest University! More than 175 authors have purchased and enjoyed the instruction. This premier online course is designed to help you maximize book sales at the world’s largest retailer. Learn more... Not sure if this course is for you? Register for the free webinar here>> Read More...  Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301

Writer's Dig Publishing Insights WD University Writer's Digest is excited to announce the start of a new reader-driven column in our upcoming January/February 2020 issue! Read more about how you can submit your responses for the column below. Plus, you'll also find an article about what I learned about writing from re-reading Amor Towles's A Gentleman in Moscow and our newest writing prompt. -Amy Follow @AmyMJones_5 Read More for Better Writing What Reading A Gentleman in Moscow Taught Me About Writing As I was preparing to interview Amor Towles for the November/December 2019 issue of Writer’s Digest, I set my first task as re-reading A Gentleman in Moscow. It’s a book I truly love and can’t stop recommending to others to read (I used to work at Borders Books—once a bookseller, always a bookseller!). This time reading the book I was reading it with the goal of creating questions to ask the author, but because it was a close, second reading, I also started making observations about what readers of WD—that is, writers—could learn about writing from reading the book. While reading the book for the sheer joy of it is a valuable experience on its own, there’s added depth for writers looking to improve their writing. Here are four things A Gentleman in Moscow can teach you about writing. Read the full article... What's New A New Column in the WD Magazine: From Our Readers Beginning with our January/February 2020 issue, a new Writer's Digest column, From Our Readers, will be featured in each issue. Each issue will pose a question about writing and we'll print our favorite reader responses. Check out our first question and submit your response by November 1. Learn More... 8 Leigh Bardugo Quotes About Writing for Writers Leigh Bardugo's newest novel was released this week. Get inspired to create fantastical worlds with these 8 Leigh Bardugo quotes about writing from the March/April 2018 issue of Writer's Digest. Read More... Breaking & Entering: Two Writers on a Bulletproof Screenwriting Career A Script Magazine Feature Barri Evins interviews writers David Diamond and David Weissman on their new book revealing the art and the elbow grease essential to a successful career. Learn more from all three at their joint screenwriting for novelists session at the upcoming Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference. Read More... Pick a Monster Writer's Digest Weekly Writing Prompt Who is your favorite horror movie monster? The creature from the black lagoon? Freddie Krueger? Dracula? Mike Wazowski? This week’s prompt will explore our most favorite and frightening monsters. Start Writing... Plot Perfect Boot Camp Writer's Digest University Whether you're writing a novel, short story, memoir, stage play, or screenplay, this boot camp will show you how to craft a great narrative scene-by-scene. It's a hands-on event with the agents of Talcott Notch Literary Services providing personalized feedback on your story structure and plot. Register now...  Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301