Writer's Digest University

Here are the latest Writer's Digest University newsletters:

Agent Feedback on Your First Chapter! Children's books—young adult, middle grade, and picture books—have taken over the publishing industry (in a good way). Readers of all ages are devouring the books that used to mainly take up space in libraries, children's bedroom bookshelves, or school classrooms. In this WDU Boot Camp, the agents of P.S. Literary Agency will show you how to make your submission stand out. Work directly with an agent from the comfort of your home!  Your Registration Includes: 4 exclusive online tutorials presented by agents Maria Vicente and Eric Smith Online Q&A session hosted by the P.S. Literary Agency Networking opportunities with your peers Feedback from an agent on your query letter plus your picture book or first chapter of your MG or YA novel Get personalized feedback from agents with the P.S. Literary Agency! If your submission shows promise, they may ask you for additional pages. Thursday, May 19, 2020 Click here to learn more about how it works! HURRY, SEATING IS LIMITED! | Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301 Active Interest Media, 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301, USA

Next Weekend's Virtual Conference WDU Annual Science Fiction & Fantasy Virtual Conference Spend the weekend honing your science fiction and fantasy craft with six different published authors! Then, pitch your novel to a science fiction or fantasy literary agent. Learn how it works >> May 15-17, 2020 LEARN MORE! This Month's Boot Camp Publishing Your Children's Book Agent feedback your query letter plus your picture book manuscript or a sample from your middle grade/young adult manuscript’s first chapter. Learn how it works >> May 19-22, 2020 LEARN MORE! Featured Resources April 2020 Issue Getting Started in Writing Premium Collection Manuscript Critique Service The Writer's Digest Interviews: Award-Winning Writers New Digital Guide The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets To celebrate National Poetry Month, WD Senior Editor Robert Brewer has compiled more than 100 poetic forms to serve as both an informative resource and inspiration for new writing. DOWNLOAD NOW Explore More Resources WD ANNUAL CONFERENCE FREE WRITING RESOURCES COMPETITIONS CRITIQUE SERVICES COURSES & WEBINARS PREMIUM COLLECTIONS  Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301 Active Interest Media, 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301, USA

Science Fiction & Fantasy Virtual Conference Without ever having to leave your home, spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your science fiction and fantasy craft from six different published authors! Then (if you choose) pitch your novel via query letter to a literary agent specifically looking for material in the science fiction or fantasy genre. Click here to learn more and enroll! SESSION 1: How to Give Your Sci-Fi or Fantasy Universe a Lived-In Feel World-building is a special challenge in SFF literature because it’s easy to slide into something that feels artificial and 'made up.' There are a few simple rules to follow that will help. In this session, Jeff will look at avoiding shmeeping, revealing imperfections, and more. Instructor: Jeff Somers Jeff Somers has published nine novels, including the Avery Cates series of noir-science fiction novels from Orbit Books. He also writes about books for Barnes and Noble and About.com and about the craft of writing for Writer’s Digest, which also published his book on the craft of writing Writing Without Rules in 2018. SESSION 2: Punch Them in the Face: Writing Realistic Martial Arts! Most novels have physical conflict in them somewhere. But how do you make a fight scene believable, especially when your character is supposed to know a specific style of martial art? This session will go over how to write accurate fight scenes, as well as incorporate existing or imagined martial arts into your story. Instructor: Charlie N. Homberg Charlie N. Holmberg is the award-winning author of the Numina series, The Fifth Doll, and many others. Her Wall Street Journal bestselling Paper Magician series, which includes The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician, and The Master Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Charlie’s stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance. SESSION 3: Using Sets and Props in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing has often been described as being more like acting than it is like directing. Let's talk for an hour about how we as writers can use the environments and objects in our stories — our characters' "sets" and "props" — to help define the characters and convey their emotions. Instructor: David D. Levine David D. Levine is the Hugo- and Nebula-winning author of three novels, including the Andre Norton Award winner Arabella of Mars, and over fifty short stories. In researching his stories he has flown a hang glider, experienced zero G, and spent two weeks at a simulated Mars base in Utah. . SESSION 4: A Hero, an Anti-hero, and a Villain Walk into a Bar… The main cast of characters in your science fiction or fantasy novel should be well-developed and multi-faceted. Each one has a journey and a backstory. Let’s break down character archetypes, and explore ways to bring depth and complexity to these fictional personalities. We’ll discuss how to create a compelling hero and a villain we love to hate. We’ll talk about character arcs, goals, and motivation, and learn effective ways to incorporate our characters' backstories into our tale. Instructor: Tabitha Lord Tabitha Lord's HORIZON series has received several independent book awards including the Writer’s Digest Grand Prize in 2016. Her short fiction has been featured on podcasts including Star Ship Sofa and Tales to Terrify, and in anthologies published by World Weaver Press, Grimbold Books, and more.. . SESSION 5: Controlling Pacing in Your Science Fiction/Fantasy Novel Worldbuilding and character arc are key elements in any SFF novel. But what happens when these elements overshadow or bog down your pacing? This session will explore how to use the 3-Act Structure to create fluid, natural pacing with a familiar scaffolding that still keeps readers hooked at every turn. Instructor: Kaitlyn Johnson Kaitlyn Johnson is literary agent for Belcastro Literary Agency, she is also a freelance editor at her own company, K. Johnson Editorial. She has written various articles for Writer’s Digest and has had a flash fiction story published in the anthology A Box of Stars Beneath the Bed. . SESSION 6: Bound in a Nutshell—On Writing Narratives of Confinement From Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale to Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, tales of confinement bring out both an intense fascination and an intense revulsion. When writing fiction, we are encouraged to free our minds; what happens when we use that freedom to explore the stories that grow out of oppressive restriction? In this session, Nghi will discuss ways to bring the most out of confined worlds and worldviews. Instructor: Nghi Vo Nghi Vo, the author of The Empress of Salt and Fortune, lives on the shores of Lake Michigan. Her short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Uncanny Magazine, PodCastle, and Lightspeed, and her short story, “Neither Witch nor Fairy” made the 2014 Otherwise Award Honor List.  HURRY, SEATING IS LIMITED! | Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301 Active Interest Media, 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301, USA

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7 Things That Will Doom Your Novel There are a lot of ways not to do something. Like the new boat owner a few years ago who was filling up his pleasure craft with fuel for that first time out. Only he mistook the tube meant to hold fishing poles for the gas tank. After completing his work he started up the engine. The gas fumes ignited and blew the boat owner into the sky. He came down in the drink and was rescued, but the boat was a goner. (7 things to do when you want to give up.) You can be just as creative in finding ways not to write your novel. With a little thought and not much effort, you can easily devise methods to prevent yourself from actually finishing a book—or finishing a book that has a chance to sell. So if not finishing or not selling are your goals, I'm here to help you with the following seven tips. Read the full article... MORE MOTIVATION 7 Writing Exercises to Kickstart Your Creativity Maybe it's not exactly writer's block, but sometimes we sit with a blank screen or notebook and wait for a bolt from the blue, a way to begin a new piece. When that happens, it's time to play. Here are seven fun ways to kickstart your creativity. Read More... This Week in Writing 5/5—Søren Kierkegaard born 1813 5/6—Sigmund Freud born 1856 5/6—Henry David Thoreau died 1862 5/6—Randall Jarrell born 1914 5/6—Orson Welles born 1915 5/6—L. Frank Baum died 1919 5/7—Robert Browning born 1812 5/7—Peter Tchaikovsky born 1840 5/8—Thomas Pynchon born 1937 5/8—Peter Benchley born 1940 5/8—Robert A. Heinlein died 1988 5/9—J.M. Barrie born 1860 5/9—Richard Adams born 1920 5/9—Joy Harjo born 1951 5/10—Shel Silverstein died 1999 Robert Lee Brewer Robert Lee Brewer is a senior editor for Writer's Digest and former editor of the Writer's Market book series. He is also the author of Smash Poetry Journal and Solving the World's Problems. Find him on Twitter at @RobertLeeBrewer

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Writer's Digest online writing workshops cover every aspect of writing, from how to get started all the way to getting your project published -- all from the comfort of your home! Click here to view the full course calendar >> Courses Starting This Week:  Advanced Blogging Instructor: Naveed Saleh Do you want to dig deeper into what makes a successful and unique blog? Perhaps your blog isn't performing the way you would like? By the end of this course, you will have the confidence and the know-how to build your blog into something extraordinary. Breaking Into Copywriting 101 Instructor: Naveed Saleh Writing is your passion. Why not make it your day job, too? Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter, novelist or playwright, or even just an avid reader, you can turn your love for words into a lucrative career as a professional copywriter. Fitting Writing Into Your Life Instructor: Terri Valentine Finding the time, energy, and motivation to get the writing done—day after day—stumps even the most seasoned writer on occasion. Get a glimpse into the life of a professional writer and set realistic writing goals for yourself with this online workshop. Introduction to Copyediting Instructor: Kim Catanzarite If you’ve thought about becoming a copy editor but you’re not sure how to go about it, this is the course for you. Not only will students learn what a copy editor does and how she does it, they will also learn the crucial grammatical rules that will put them at the top of their game. Marketing Your Magazine Articles Instructor: Jack Adler Do you have a great idea for an article but don’t know what publication would be the best fit? Develop the skills you need to market your writing through this online writing workshop. Outlining Your Novel Instructor: G. Miki Hayden Writers often look upon outlines with fear and trembling. But when properly understood and correctly used, the outline is one of the most powerful weapons in a writer's arsenal. Short Story Fundamentals Instructor: Mark Spencer The short story is a unique and challenging medium that offers you amazing opportunities. Throughout this four-week workshop, you will have feedback and support while you write and hone an entire short story from beginning to end, and you'll leave with a polished draft of your story. May Virtual Conference:  WDU Annual Science Fiction & Fantasy Virtual Conference with Kaitlyn Johnson, Charlie N. Homberg, Tabitha Lord, Jeff Somers, Nghi Vo, and David D. Levine May 15-17, 2020 Enroll in this one-of-a-kind online event and you'll receive expert insights from SIX award-winning and bestselling authors as well as written feedback on your pitch from a sci-fi/fantasy literary agent. Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live writing conference without ever having to leave your home! May Boot Camp:  Publishing Your Children's Book: How to Write and Pitch Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Book Manuscripts with Maria Vicente & Eric Smith of P.S. Literary May 19-22, 2020 Children's books—young adult, middle grade, and picture books—have taken over the publishing industry (in a good way). In this WDU Boot Camp, the agents of P.S. Literary Agency will show you how to make your submission stand out. You’ll have the chance to submit your query letter plus your picture book manuscript or a sample from your middle grade/young adult manuscript’s first chapter for critique. Featured Screenwriters University Webinar: Writing the Micro-Budget Screenplay Instructor: Paul Peditto May 13, 4:00 PM EDT There has never been a better time to break into the business. All you need is a script that can be shot for a micro-budget price and producer with knowledge of how to make the film. Register for this webinar and write your film! View Full Course Calendar Hate being tied to a schedule? Our Self-Paced Courses are Now Only $19.99! EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS INVALUABLE FEEDBACK | Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301 To unsubscribe from all AIM emails, click HERE Active Interest Media, 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301, USA

Each Flashback Friday throughout 2020, we'll be sharing an article from our archives to celebrate our 100th anniversary. Tweet your favorite WD memory to us @WritersDigest using the hashtag #WritersDigest100. Thanks for celebrating with us! Science Fiction Unlimited By Richard Matheson, Writer's Digest April 1956 Go ask his ubiquitous majesty—the man in the street. Ask him what science fiction is. Conditioned by the movies, stultified by television, he may be unable to fashion a coherent reply. So probe gently. Give him a word association test. Say “science fiction” and he’ll say “monsters.” Say “science fiction” and he’ll say “invasion from space.” Say “science fiction.” His tongue will loosen. “Buck Rogers,” he’ll say; or “Flash Gordon,” or “Captain Video.” How many of you potential science fiction writers are like him? Too many, I’d say. Perhaps bursting with new thoughts, with fresh ideas, with inborn furies of ambition and needing an outlet for these writers’ blessings and curses. Perhaps you are unaware of a field, small but eager, which needs and welcomes them. And all because no one has told you. [Learn more about writing science fiction here.] Science fiction is more, much more, than elemental comic-book hokum. It’s a form of literature in which no theory is too advanced, no idea too bizarre, no concept beyond the borders of presentation, in which every aspect of existence lies within the writer’s province. Here you can write a story that actually says something about people that actually means something. When I left college, I was, like so many young graduates, burning with indignations I wanted to cry abroad. Science fiction didn’t ask for concessions. It demanded only that I garb my indignation with colorful, interesting clothes. I called that fair enough and we formed a partnership. [Article continues below ad or, click here to read it on our website.] A Chance to Shout I have sold science fiction stories about adultery and pregnancy, about sex and old age and dope addiction and insane frustration. I have sold anti-war stories, anti-race prejudice stories, social comment stories and even delved into metaphysics. This is a brag not for me but for science fiction. It not only gave me a chance to write these stories but compelled me to give them an interest they would have lacked otherwise. One thing is certain. They never would have sold otherwise. But they did sell—and there’s no reason on earth why you can’t do the same thing if you want to. Read the remainder of this article on our website here. Amy Jones Amy Jones is the editor-in-chief of Writer’s Digest and the former managing content director for WD Books. Prior to joining the WD team, Amy was the managing editor for North Light Books and IMPACT Books. Find her on Twitter at @AmyMJones_5 WDU Annual Science Fiction & Fantasy Virtual Conference Without ever having to leave your home, spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your science fiction and fantasy craft from six different published authors! Then (if you choose) pitch your novel via query letter to a literary agent specifically looking for material in the science fiction or fantasy genre. Click here to learn more.   Privacy Policy Writer's Digest an Active Interest Media company 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301