Writer's Digest

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This Week's Boot Camp   Publishing Your Children's Book 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. Starts Today! November 17-20, 2020 LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!   This Week's Webinar Create an Author Website in 24 Hours or Less Launching your author website doesn't have to be scary. Digital media and publishing expert Jane Friedman will teach you how to get your website up and running in a day or less—often in one evening!  This Thursday! November 19, 2020   SIGN UP NOW! Featured Resources     November/December 2020 Issue   2nd Draft Line Edit   Short Story Writing Kit   Memoir Writing Kit   Upcoming Boot Camp First Ten Pages Boot Camp As you may know, agents and editors won't give your work more than ten pages or so to make an impact. In this invaluable event, you'll get to work directly with an agent to review and refine the first ten pages of your novel. December 3-6, 2020   HURRY, SEATING IS LIMITED! Explore More Resources     Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA     Last Chance to Register!   Children's books—young adult, middle grade, and picture books—have taken over the publishing industry (in a good way). Now, children's books are celebrated for their enchanting prose, their relatable characters, their beautiful illustrations, and their fantastic stories that transcend age categories and genres. The growth of the children's book sector has been unprecedented this past decade—so how can you make your manuscript stand out in these crowded categories and genres? Work directly with an agent from the comfort of your home!    Your Registration Includes: Four special 30-minute online tutorials presented by literary agents from the P.S. Literary Agency Online Q&A session with your assigned agent  Networking opportunities with your peers Feedback from an agent on your query and full picture book or sample from your first chapter Get personalized feedback from agents with the P.S. Literary Agency! If your submission shows promise, they may ask you for additional pages. Starts Tomorrow! November 17-20   LEARN MORE!   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA   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.   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.    Read the full article...     Listen aloud to catch more errors… There’s an app for that.   Thousands of writers use Edit Out Loud to listen to their work and add comments from their phones while walking dogs, doing laundry, or jogging. Comments sync back to a Word document so you can address them. You can even share audio with beta readers to collect their feedback. Editing just got easier!   Try the app for free on the App Store or on Google Play     Plot Twist Story Prompts: Wrong Turn   For today's prompt, it's time to take a wrong turn. More than a few stories actually use the wrong turn twist to set up the rest of the plot. However, there are some wrong turns that can add flavor to your story without overtaking the entire dish.   For instance, a wrong turn is a good way to introduce a character who will play a significant role later in the story. It's also a great way to introduce objects that may play a more significant role. Anyone familiar with the Harry Potter series of novels can probably come up with several "wrong turns" that eventually had "pay off" moments in the stories.   (25 plot twist ideas and prompts for writers.)   While wrong turns are good for planting seeds in your story, they're also great for building tension and suspense. After all, a wrong turn inherently means that your characters are further away from their intended destination. How long does it take for them to realize they took a wrong turn? How do they react once they realize the mistake? These add to the drama, but they also feed character development.   Read More...   This Week in Writing   11/16—Chinua Achebe born 1930 11/16—Andrea Barrett born 1954 11/18—Robert C. O'Brien born 1918 11/18—Margaret Atwood born 1939 (WD interview with Atwood.) 11/19—Allen Tate born 1889 11/20—Leo Tolstoy died 1910 11/20—Don DeLillo born 1936 11/21—Voltaire born 1694 11/21—Andrew Sean Greer born 1970 (WD interview with Greer.) 11/22—George Eliot born 1819 11/22—Jack London died 1916 11/22—Jamie Lee Curtis born 1958 11/22—C.S. Lewis died 1963 11/22—Aldous Huxley died 1963 (15 quotes from Brave New World.) 11/22—Anthony Burgess died 1993   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     Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA       Active Interest Media, 5710 Flatiron Parkway, Suite A, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA     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 >>   This Week's Boot Camp:   Publishing Your Children's Book: How to Write and Pitch Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Book Manuscripts with P.S. Literary November 17-20, 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.   This Week's Webinar:   Create an Author Website in 24 Hours or Less with Jane Friedman Thursday, November 19, 1:00 PM EST Launching your author website doesn't have to be scary. Digital media and publishing expert Jane Friedman will teach you how to get your website up and running in a day or less—often in one evening! Allow easy access to your writing, build your list of loyal followers, and experience the feeling of having your very own website in less than a day!   Courses Starting This Week:    Copyediting Certificate Program Instructor: Christine Pingleton This workshop will provide training for aspiring copy editors in order to give them practical and marketable workplace skills. If you complete all the assignments and pass the comprehensive test, you will receive documentation from Writer's Digest of your completion of the Copyediting Certificate Program.   Character Development: Creating Memorable Characters Instructor: Gloria Kempton When you take this online writing course, you will learn how to create believable fiction characters and construct scenes with emotional depth and range. Create characters readers will love and develop a strong point of view for your fiction book today!   Fearless Writing Instructor: William Kenower This workshop will look at several techniques you can you use to keep yourself in the creative flow and out of the trouble and misery fear always causes. It offers you a transformative experience from renowned motivator William Kenower. Don't miss out!   Increase Your Online Reach with SEO Instructor: Dorit Sasson In these uncertain times, strategies for marketing and selling books have changed. With so many cancelled book events, authors and writers need to be found online more than ever. Whether you’re an authorpreneur, a freelancer, or a blogger, this very practical, hands-on course will guide you through the magical optimization process of how to show up on Google so that people can start finding you online.   Revision & Self Editing Instructor: Terri Valentine Every writer knows that the journey to publication is a long and hard road. Once you finish your first draft, it’s time to start the arduous process of self-editing and revision. In this workshop, you will learn methods of self-editing for fiction writers to ensure your writing is free of errors.   Writing the Mystery Novel Instructor: G. Miki Hayden Do you love reading a good mystery? Have you always wanted to write one? During the Essentials of Mystery Writing workshop, you'll have the choice of creating a brand new mystery story from scratch or working with a story you already have in progress. Spend six weeks on your craft while receiving feedback from a published mystery author!   Writing the Personal Essay 101: Fundamentals Instructor: Estelle Erasmus An excellent way to get your first byline, this course guides writers through elements of how to write a personal essay, helping them identify values expressed in their stories and bring readers into the experiences described.   Upcoming Boot Camp:   Agent One-on-One: First 10 Pages Boot Camp with Talcott Notch Literary Services December 3-6, 2020 As you may know, agents and editors won't give your work more than ten pages or so to make an impact. In this invaluable event, you'll get to work directly with an agent to review and refine the first ten pages of your novel. You'll learn what keeps an agent reading, what are the most common mistakes that make them stop, and the steps you need to take to correct them.    Hate being tied to a schedule? Check out our affordable, Self-Paced Courses >>   EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS INVALUABLE FEEDBACK   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA      Writer's Digest November/December 2020   Writer’s Digest officially turns 100! In this special double issue, WD celebrates 100 years of helping writers improve their craft and getting published with advice from some of the biggest industry professionals and authors publishing today. We’ll look back on how writing has changed over time, the founding of WD, and much more. This issue's articles include:  Writers on Writing: Bryan Washington, the multiple-award winning author of Lot and a new novel titled Memorial (Oct. 2020, Riverhead Books), is the first guest author of this new column in which writers will consider a topic important to them, offer advice, or lessons learned. By Bryan Washington The WD Interview with Celeste Ng: Former WD editor Tyler Moss interviewed the bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere. Their wide-ranging conversation covers everything from outlining and editing, to establishing theme and the importance of uplifting other writers. By Tyler Moss WD Profile: Erik Larson: Just before the launch of his newest book, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz, Erik Larson sat down with Zac Petit for an in-depth profile from his New York City apartment. Larson shares about the roles that both chance and research play in his bestselling books, all while Petit tries to uncover the secret of the question, How does Erik Larson do it? Featuring exclusive photos of Larson in his workspace. By Zac Petit Also included is a bonus interview with Nick Laird and Zadie Smith, 100 Ways to Buff Your Book, 100 Years of Writing Inspiration, and much, much more!  $8.99   BUY NOW!   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA      Agent Feedback on Your First Ten Pages!   As many writers know, agents and editors won't give your work more than ten pages or so to make an impact. Make sure you've got the kind of opening they're looking for! In this invaluable event, you'll get to work with an agent online to review and refine the first ten pages of your novel. Work directly with an agent from the comfort of your home!    Your Registration Includes: 60-minute online tutorial presented by agent and editor Paula Munier Online Q&A session hosted by Talcott Notch Literary Services Networking opportunities with your peers Feedback from an agent on your first ten pages Get personalized feedback from agents with the Talcott Notch Literary Agency! If your submission shows promise, they may ask you for additional pages.   December 3-6, 2020   HURRY, SEATING IS LIMITED!   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA   In this issue, look at how to write the perfect query letter, peruse 39 successful query letters, discover a new market spotlight and new agent alert, and so much more!  How to Write the Perfect Query Letter One of the easiest ways to learn what makes a good, standard query letter is simply to see an example of one that does its job well. If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is your first (and often, your only) chance to get an agent interested in reading (and, with hope, signing) your work. You should put just as much care and attention into crafting and polishing your query as you did into your manuscript. After all, if your pitch doesn’t hit its mark, your book will never leave your desktop. (39 successful query letters in multiple genres.) Following is a successful query for a middle-grade novel that led to me first requesting this full manuscript and later signing on to represent the author, Dianna Dorisi Winget. Read the full article... Craft & Business of Writing Cardinal Rule Press: Market Spotlight The editors say, "We are a traditional publishing company located in southeast Michigan that produces a select number of books each year; all of which make a difference in the world while reflecting modern-day diversity. Cardinal Rule Press leads the way in providing messages that empower families, schools and communities through inspirational children's books and educational programs and events that support our books' powerful themes." Read More... New Agent Alert: Crystal Orazu What moves Crystal above all else is simple, open, and honest writing true to an author's wild imagination or lived experience. Anything that brings equal measures of humor, introspection, or feelings of second-hand embarrassment appeals to her. She loves both sweet meandering stories as well as more fraught and thrilling narratives in both YA and adult fiction. Perspectives that make her question the way that she or others move in the world, as well as her assumptions/opinions of societies and systems (à la Black Mirror), are also welcome in her inbox. Read More... Sparking Optimism With Cozies and Sassy Cats "I'm a bit of a pantser when I write, so sometimes I'm surprised by how things turn out. With Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines, though, I had to turn in an early detailed synopsis, complete with the ending. I needed to flesh out plot points and choose the killer way in advance.  (7 steps to creating a flexible outline for any story.) "Despite the pre-plotting, I was happy to feel the creative juices flowing, and my characters still managed to shape pivotal scenes." Read More... Send Your Work to 2nd Draft Critique Services! No matter your style or genre, Writer's Digest Shop offers a high-level view of your writing. After an evaluation of your submission, one of the professional 2nd Draft critiquers will provide feedback and advice. You’ll not only learn what’s working in your writing, but what’s not, and—most important—how to fix it. Gain a critique of your manuscript, query letter, synopsis, and more! Click here to learn more >> The Parenting Break From Writing In 2015, just a year after my second novel, The Art of Floating, was published, I turned in my good literary citizen card and, for the most part, dropped out of sight. I didn’t plan this sabbatical. I loved teaching, blogging, speaking at literary conferences, hosting reading series, engaging in bookish conversations, mentoring emerging writers, and bellowing from the social media mountaintops about beloved books and authors. But with a seven-year-old and a newly adopted two-year-old, I found myself unable to connect beyond that all-consuming triad. Every ounce of energy was funneled into parenting. For the next few years, I limited myself to two things: parenting and writing. As the years ticked by, my kids grew, my new novel Agatha Arch Is Afraid of Everything sold to Alcove Press, a bit of space opened in my life and mind, and I, once again, began to long for that deep connection with the literary community. I needed to reconnect with writers and readers around the world, to teach and share and uplift, and to be an integral part of this very special something. But how?  Read More... 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 Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA