Writer's Digest

 With special offers and more:

Today Only! Save an Extra $10 on the Short Story Writing Kit Use Code SHORT10   Writing a short story is a very rewarding experience for writers at any level. As with novels, they require you to identify the themes and key emotions you’d like to convey to your readers. Short stories have always had the power to captivate and make an impact while challenging writers to be concise. In this exclusive kit from Writer’s Digest, you’ll find seven proven resources designed to help you write an excellent short story. Save money while getting the help you need from a source you trust! See What's Included >>   $274.95  $54.99 $44.99 Use Code SHORT10   HURRY, TODAY ONLY!   *Coupon good for the Short Story Writing Kit only. Expires after December 7, 2020.   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA 5 Ways to Surprise Your Reader In his essay "On Writing," Raymond Carver writes, "I overheard the writer Geoffrey Wolff say 'No cheap tricks' to a group of writing students. That should go on a three-by-five card. I'd amend it to 'No tricks.' Period. I hate tricks." Similarly, crime writer Charles Willeford gave students in his "Classic Detective Novel" course a handout that began, "The detective story is a kind of intellectual game. The author must be fair with the reader, because games should be fair. The author may outwit the reader, but he should not cheat by trickiness or deceptions." (Plot twist ideas and prompts for writers.) And so in the spirit of "no tricks or no deceptions," I offer five ways to surprise your reader. Read the full article... 30 Poetry Prompts! November was a lot of fun! I wrote more than 30 poems. And I've already received a few chapbook submissions. To make it easier to catch up and/or just write poems, here are the 30 poetry prompts collected in one spot. (List of 100 poetic forms for poets.) Each day gives a hint at what the prompt covers. Just click on the link if you need more details or would like to read a few example poems. Read More... This Week in Writing 12/7—Willa Cather born 1873 12/8—James Thurber born 1894 12/9—John Milton born 1608 12/10—Emily Dickinson born 1830 (10 best winter poems) 12/12—Gustave Flaubert born 1821 12/12—Joseph Heller 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 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 >>   Courses Starting This Week:    12 Weeks to a First Draft Instructor: John DeChancie 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.   Form and Composition Instructor: Kelly Boyer Sagert Proper grammar, punctuation, and mechanics make your writing correct. In order to truly write well, you must also master the art of form and composition. From sentence structure to polishing your prose, this workshop will enhance your writing, no matter what type of writing you do.   Getting Started in Writing Instructor: Gloria Kempton Have you always wanted to be a writer? Don't let doubt or fear get the best of you—take a chance and learn how to start writing a book, novel, short story, memoir, or essay. When you take this online writing workshop, you'll discover your voice, learn the basics of grammar, and examine the different types of writing.   Query Letter in 14 Days Instructor: Jack Adler You've devoted hours, days, months—even years—to writing and editing your novel or nonfiction book. When you enroll in this online course, you'll learn the details of the query letter format and how to write a query letter that catches the attention of agents and publishers.   Writing Historical Fiction Instructor: Donna Russo Morin In this workshop, you'll learn everything you need to know about writing a historical novel. This includes how to find the facts you need, how to organize those facts, how to write scenes utilizing historical markers, and more!   Featured Course:   Sell Books on a Shoestring Budget with Rob Eagar December 17 - January 14 You're an author on a tight budget. Or, maybe you've got some money, but you're tired of wasting it on marketing that didn't work. It's possible to sell a lot of books - even on a shoestring budget. Let Rob Eagar, one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in the industry, show you the way.   Featured Course:   How to Get Published: Land a Book Deal in 2021 with Jane Friedman January 6, 2021 Book publishing is undergoing a dramatic transformation as ebook sales increase and physical bookstores decrease in number. Join publishing expert Jane Friedman for this info-packed, 120-minute webinar. You'll get the practical advice and tools you need to make 2021 the year you finally publish your book!   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     Free Webinar, Enroll Today!   What if you could sell a lot of books without spending a lot of money? Yes, it’s possible. Writing a book is a labor of love. You poured your heart and soul into your manuscript hoping to move thousands of readers with your words. Of course, seeing your book become a bestseller would be a dream come true. But, the reality is that very few books hit the bestseller lists. Books don’t magically sell thousands of copies by themselves. Rob Eagar knows this truth first-hand as one of the rare marketing consultants who has helped both fiction and nonfiction books hit the New York Times bestseller list. On Tuesday, April 8 at 1:00 pm Eastern, Rob will conduct a FREE webinar to explain how his bestselling clients marketed their books without breaking the bank. The information will be recorded if you miss the live discussion. This webinar isn’t one of those fluffy, boring online events. Rob will reveal specific marketing tips that explain how to: • Create a source of book sales that you can control • Learn how bestselling authors go to where readers gather • Promote your book to avid buyers in your genre Rob will also take your questions and give an inside look at his popular course, Sell Books on a Shoestring Budget. First-time authors will be blown away by Rob’s easy-to-apply insights. Veteran authors will be shocked to learn why some authors continuously outsell them. If you enjoy webinars packed with meaty teaching and a chance to get expert answers to your questions, this is the event for you! Space is limited so register for free today >>     Thursday, December 10, 1:00 PM EST   REGISTER NOW!   Instructor: Rob Eagar   Learn from one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in America. For over 10 years, Rob Eagar has coached more than 800 authors, consulted with numerous publishing houses, and helped clients hit the New York Times bestseller list three different ways, including new fiction, new non-fiction, and backlist non-fiction. He even helped a book become a New York Times bestseller after 20 years in print!     Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA   Special Offer: Subscribe for Only $10 Makes a Great Gift!   In each issue: Must-have tips and publishing secrets to stay inspired, creative, and motivated The latest (and greatest!) markets for print and e-publishing Inspirational stories of writers who are living the dream, and how they got there Technique articles geared toward specific genres... and so much more! Every issue of Writer’s Digest is devoted to helping writers develop their craft and offering expert advice on how to get published. The magazine is full of pertinent tips on writing queries, writers' rights, new markets, submission guidelines, and competitions.   HURRY, LIMITED TIME OFFER!   NEW U.S. GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS ONLY. NO RENEWALS, PLEASE. LIMITED TIME OFFER. GIFT WILL BE DELIVERED LATE DECEMBER.   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 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!   Don't Hide Your Light Verse Under a Bushel   By Richard Armour, Writer's Digest, October 1960   Light verse is a kind of poetry that anyone can write. Whether anyone can write it well enough to make it salable is another question. Oddly, it is at once easy to write and hard to write. It is easy to write light verse that will amuse a friend but hard to write light verse that will amuse an editor. Of course, an editor can become a friend, after he has bought a few dozen verses, but even then he is a little different from your other friends, because when he says, "I laughed and laughed over this one," he has to send you a check, unless he hastily adds, "but I was out-voted."   It's Easy to Write   What makes light verse easy to write, in some fashion, is that it is (and it should be) brief. It can be as short as two lines, and the lightness is likely to go out of it if it becomes much longer than, say, sixteen. Thus, it can be written in short snatches of time, and composed in one's head while one is physically busy about something else—while shaving or driving or ironing or washing the dishes. Since it requires no such investment of time as writing a novel or a short story or an ambitious serious poem, it is no catastrophe if you fail a few times, or even a few hundred times.   Continue reading this article on our website.   Moriah Richard Moriah Richard is an editor at Writer’s Digest with a particular interest in discussing craft and genre. As a reader, she’s most interested in horror, fantasy, and romance, although she will read just about anything with a great hook. Find Moriah on Twitter @MoriahRichard93.     Sell Books on a Shoestring Budget You're an author on a tight budget. Or, maybe you've got some money, but you're tired of wasting it on marketing that didn't work. It's possible to sell a lot of books - even on a shoestring budget. Let Rob Eagar, one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in the industry, show you the way. Learn more... Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA