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20 Most Popular Writing Posts of 2020   After 20 production cycles with the Writer's Market books, 2020 became my first full year focused on figuring out what writing content to share on WritersDigest.com. If we remove all the "2020" of 2020, last year was one of my favorite as an editor ever. I mean, I love writing in all its forms, so getting to focus on EVERYTHING was exciting and a little overwhelming at times (but mostly super exciting).   (Writing Mistakes Writers Make.)   With a full year under my belt, I'm even more excited about what we're going to do in 2021. And I'd love it if you could share a comment or two in the comments about what you'd like to see on this site in the future. But first, let's look back over 2020 and celebrate the most popular writing posts of 2020.   Each post was originally published in 2020, and yes, I've included more than 20, because a few of these can be categorized together. And I just like sharing all our coolest posts from last year. So without further ado... Read the full article...     Grist’s solutions lab, Fix is launching a short story contest, Imagine 2200: Climate fiction for future ancestors. Submissions close April 12. Imagine 2200 calls for stories (3,000–5,000 words) that envision a just, and regenerative future. Winners will be awarded $3000, $2000, and $1000 respectively, and nine additional finalists will each receive a $300 honorarium. Winners and finalists will be published in Grist Magazine. Judges include Adrienne Maree Brown, Kiese Laymon, and Morgan Jerkins. Submit here.     Plot Twist Story Prompts: Moment of Doubt   For today's prompt, have a character experience a moment of doubt. After all, a moment of doubt can stall many a trip or give an opponent the time needed to thwart a plan—for good or evil.   (How to Conquer Self-Doubt and Just Write.)   Two people are leaving a burning building together. One jumps out a window to safety while the other hesitates—just long enough for the building to collapse. Or two lovers debate whether to leave on a trip. She wants him to come, but he's not sure. She says, "Now or never." He hesitates and regrets his hesitation ever after when she leaves without looking back. Read More...   Take the Proven Route to Well-Paid Writing...     Download The Definitive Blueprint for Making Good Money as a Freelance Writer from AWAI. This free guide, assembled by working writers and industry experts, walks you step-by-step through everything you need to understand about making a comfortable, secure living as a professional writer.   Learn where the best opportunities are, how to rapidly break into top markets, and how to turn one-off projects into steady work.   Grab your free guide now!     This Week in Writing   1/18—Peter Mark Roget born 1779 1/18—A.A. Milne born 1882 1/18—Rudyard Kipling died 1936 1/19—Edgar Allan Poe born 1809 (10 Edgar Allan Poe quotes) 1/21—George Orwell died 1950 1/22—Francis Bacon born 1561 1/22—Lord Byron born 1788 (10 Scary Horror Books) 1/22—Kobo Abe died 1993 1/24—Edith Wharton born 1862   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

 

Last Chance to Register!   Agents get literally thousands of submissions a year, including query letters, sample pages, and synopses. Of those thousands, they request a full manuscript from few and offer representation to even fewer. In this boot camp from Fuse Literary Agency, you will learn how to put together a short yet effective query letter and a one- to two-page book synopsis (fiction). You’ll also learn some best practices for submitting your query, pages, and synopsis to agents. Work directly with an agent from the comfort of your home!    Your Registration Includes: 60-minute online tutorial led by literary agents Tricia Skinner, Michelle Richter, and Carlisle Webber Online Q&A session hosted by the Fuse Literary Agency Networking opportunities with your peers Feedback from an agent on ten pages of your submission package, which can include any combination of a double-spaced query, synopsis, or pages of your manuscript Get personalized feedback from agents with the Fuse Literary Agency! If your submission shows promise, they may ask you for additional pages. Last Chance! January 19-22, 2021   HURRY, SEATING IS LIMITED!   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:   Perfecting Submission Materials with Fuse Literary January 19-22, 2021 Agents get literally thousands of submissions a year, including query letters, sample pages, and synopses. Of those thousands, they request a full manuscript from few and offer representation to even fewer. Each attendee will have the opportunity to have their first ten pages critiqued by an agent along with their work in any combination: query letter, manuscript pages, and synopsis.   This Week's Virtual Conference:   Novel Writing Virtual Conference with 7 Award-Winning Authors January 22-24, 2021 Gain expert insights from SEVEN award-winning and best-selling authors on the finer points of how to write a novel. Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft skills, refining your characters, exploring the future of publishing, and getting the tools you need to advance your career. Then (if you choose) pitch your novel via query letter to a literary agent.   Courses Starting This Week:    Pitch an Article: Write for Today's Marketplace Instructor: Estelle Erasmus No matter what kind of article you want to write, a good pitch letter will get you noticed by an assigning editor. This intensive two-week course will teach you how to craft a good pitch letter and do it well.   Writing Nonfiction 101: Fundamentals Instructor: Mark Spencer Writing nonfiction is a great way for beginner and experienced writers to break into the publishing industry. Throughout this 12-week workshop, you will get step-by-step instruction on how to write nonfiction. Register for this workshop and discover how fun writing nonfiction can be.   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.   Creativity & Expression Instructor: G. Miki Hayden When you take this online workshop, you’ll explore creative writing topics and learn how descriptive writing can breathe life into your characters, setting, and plot. Learn creative writing techniques to launch your writing and transform your ideas into your next story.   Advanced Novel Writing Instructor: Mark Spencer Push yourself beyond your comfort zone and take your writing to new heights with this novel writing workshop, designed specifically for novelists who are looking for detailed feedback on their work. When you take this online workshop, you won't have weekly reading assignments or lectures. Instead, you'll get to focus solely on completing your novel.   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 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 Webinars:   Querying for Success: What Attracts an Agent to Your Submission with Carlisle Webber January 28, 1:00 PM EST Your query letter is the first interaction you and your book have with an agent. If getting an agent is a job, this is your job interview. In this live webinar, instructor and literary agent Carlisle Webber will show you how to grab an agent's attention with your query letter. A critique of your query letter comes with your registration and the final part of the webinar will include a live, anonymous query critique.   Writing Romance in Today's Market with Kimberly Brower February 11, 1:00 PM EST The number of romance authors out there is growing, as is the market, so standing out amongst the masses is incredibly important. In addition to writing an amazing story, there are also many other decisions you must make. In this live webinar, Kimberly will provide an overview of today's romance market, tips on making your novel the best it can be, and information on the best ways to submit to agents.   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   Every issue of Writer’s Digest is devoted to helping writers develop their craft and offering expert advice on how to get published. This magazine is full of pertinent tips on writing queries, writers' rights, new markets, submission guidelines, and competitions. Receive The Writer's Guide to Creativity free when you subscribe today!  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!   Subscribe Today!   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA . A Special Message from our Trusted Partner Hello, writers! This is just a reminder from Atmosphere Press that we're seeking full-length book manuscripts, and are planning to publish multiple books from this call. We do read manuscripts in order of arrival, so get started on your submission soon! Plus, there's no submission fee. Atmosphere Press is an independent collaborative publisher for books of all genres, from fiction to poetry to non-fiction to children's picture books, and beyond. We're dedicated to being the premier publisher for authors who want not just any press, but one who will be a true partner through the book-making process. With exceptional editors, standout design, and global distribution, we strive to be the publisher your best writing deserves. Submissions are free and open to everyone, so we'll look forward to hearing from you soon! "The gold standard for indie presses." - Nick Olson, author of Here's Waldo Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA       Writer's Digest is focusing on #StartWrite in January! Whether it's goal-setting, organization, or motivation, we're here to help you start 2021 productively. Is Writing Inspiration or Perspiration? As we begin new projects, we may find ourselves asking, "Is it better to be a plotter, who spends hours toiling away to create a structured plot before they write, or a panster, who allows inspiration to come to them without any specific plan?" May E. DeMuth has the answer, and it might surprise you. May E. DeMuth, WritersDigest.com February 2010 At the keyboard, we’ve all experienced those moments of divine creative intervention when our muse bursts forth—ideas flow into inspired sentences, paragraphs and chapters. Likewise, no writer is exempt from those times when each word we type feels like agony. So which is it: Is our best writing purely the product of inspiration, when we hurl beautiful phrases to the page, or does our real brilliance come only through sheer perspiration? It’s the writer’s paradox—and it’s far more complicated than Thomas Edison’s oft-quoted figure that genius is 1 percent of the former, and 99 percent of the latter. Understanding the dynamics of each and how they relate to our finished written work can help us capitalize on our most inspired times and push through our most difficult moments. Here are four ways to do just that. REMEMBER THE CLUTCH-HITTING PHENOMENON. I recently came across an interesting study of baseball clutch hitters. It turns out that players who seem to have a knack for coming through when the game is on the line actually have similar statistics whether it’s the bottom of the ninth or the top of the first. As author Dan Fox detailed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “What they’ve found is that while there may be a small clutch ability … that ability is dwarfed by the normal differences in overall performance. In other words, in the bigger scheme of things, it’s the best players who do best in the clutch.” Taking that analogy from the diamond to the keyboard, it’s the writer’s patient, consistent dedication to the craft in the mundane (perspiration) that fosters moments of brilliance (inspiration) at bat. Freelance editor Andrew Meisenheimer puts it this way: “Perspiration leads to inspiration, even though that seems counterintuitive.” Read full 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 Novel Writing Virtual Conference Gain expert insights from SEVEN award-winning and best-selling authors on the finer points of how to write a novel. Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your craft skills, refining your characters, exploring the future of publishing, and getting the tools you need to advance your career. Then (if you choose) pitch your novel via query letter to a literary agent. See conference schedule >> Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA In this issue, we look at 39 query letters that have worked for writers in multiple genres, a new agent alert, making the leap from one writing genre to another, and more!  39 Queries That Worked for Writers Whether trying to hook a literary agent or editor at a book publishing company, writers need to master the art of writing effective query letters. The reason queries carry so much weight is simple: Time—and the fact that most agents and editors don't have much of it. (Click here to learn how to find a literary agent.) The mission of your query letter is to convince an editor or agent that they want to invest time in you and your writing project. In that sense, a query letter is the first impression you make in what will hopefully blossom into a much longer professional relationship. No pressure. Read the full article... Craft & Business of Writing New Agent Alert: Zeynep Sen When it comes to nonfiction, I represent works that try to start a social discussion, that prompt the reader to think on social change or books that unveil inspiring life stories or hidden histories few people know about. A book by one of my authors, Un-American, by Erik Edstrom, recently published by Bloomsbury, is an excellent example of this.  (20 literary agents actively seeking writers and their writing.) When it comes to fiction, I'm drawn to family sagas, historical novels and coming-of-age stories that embrace themes such as LGBTQ+ issues, mental health, interculturality, immigration, identity, belonging and race. Read More... Jennifer Probst: Making the Genre Leap The biggest surprise for me though was dealing with the rough draft. The first half was torturous. I struggled to figure out the problem and confided in a close writing friend. She said it seemed like I was trying to change my voice to fit what I believed was better for women's fiction rather than romance. She advised me to write the story my way instead of trying to do it the right way. Novice advice for an author of over 40 books, right? But I needed that reminder. I was able to finish the book being authentic to both myself and the story, and that made all the difference. Read More... High-concept Ideas Make a Screenwriting Career When I speak with screenwriters, I always inquire about their career goals and the projects they're working on. They enthusiastically express a desire to win a contest, sell a script, and get representation. (Proper Screenplay Format 101.) But when I dig deeper into their story idea, the answer is rarely something high concept enough that Hollywood would be interested in buying. The stories are often about someone or something they know, not necessarily something that appeals to a larger audience. Writing gurus advise us to write what we know or what we're passionate about, but we also need to write something that will sell. 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 >> Do Writers Need Literary Agents? The quick answer is, "Depends." If your goal is to get published by one of the imprints at Penguin Random House or HarperCollins, then you'll need a literary agent just to get over the transom. Many mid-sized publishers require an agent as well. In these cases, writers need a literary agent. (How to hook a literary agent.) However, many mid-sized publishers and smaller presses don't require agents. These publishers welcome submissions from writers with open arms—and Submittable pages. In these cases, writers don't need a literary agent, though they may want one. 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             If you’ve finished your manuscript, or even just your first few pages, and are looking for someone to critique your work, you should consider 2nd Draft! Exclusively available through Writer’s Digest, 2nd Draft provides a high-level review of your writing by certified professionals. You’ll not only learn what’s working in your writing, but what’s not, and—most important—how to fix it.   2nd Draft offers a variety of services from a full manuscript line edit, to simple proofreading, to query letter and even plot critiques!    Click here to view all services and learn more!   Popular Services:  Manuscript Critique   Proofreading   Picture Book Critique Short Story Critique   Line Edit   Query Letter Critique   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA   In this issue, find a new agent alert, a new publisher open to science fiction and fantasy submissions, how to write successful queries for any genre of writing, and much more!  New Literary Agent Alert: Pete Ford Some of my favorite reads recently include The Common Rule and Scandalous Witness. I am interested in receiving submissions for both fiction and nonfiction in the Christian publishing arena.  (How to write successful queries for any genre of writing.) In fiction, I am especially fascinated with parallel storylines that enhance each other. For nonfiction, "lay academic" titles interest me, from spiritual growth and practical living to topics that bring liturgy to an evangelical audience. Read the full article... Craft & Business of Writing Uproar Books: Market Spotlight Uproar Books is a Nashville-based publisher specializing in science fiction and fantasy novels. The company began accepting submissions in late 2018 and published its first title in May 2019. So it's a newer press. (Find other Spotlight Markets here.) The editors say, "Uproar Books looks for science fiction and fantasy novels with realistic characters in highly imaginative worlds. We want to see genuine emotion and meaningful struggles. And maybe a dragon or spaceship, too. But mostly the genuine and meaningful stuff." They pay authors 10% of retail price on hardcover and paperback novels and 50% of all revenues received for the sale of ebooks. Read More... Ken Quattro: Writing About Comics History "I have a writing process I developed over time that begins with a kernel of an idea, usually something that piques my interest and has not yet been done to death. I have no desire to retread a worn path. Then, I research.  "I am an obsessive researcher, and I try whenever possible to use primary sources. It is probably due to having a journalistic training, but I do not write anything I cannot verify myself with several sources. This is all quite time-consuming, but it is a process that works for me.  (Tiffany Paulsen: Never Give Up On a Project You Believe In) "I encounter factual surprises all the time—often in conflict with 'accepted' knowledge. That is part of the fun, though, and I live to uncover these undiscovered nuggets." Read More... Tips on Writing a Standout Self-Published Book As a judge for Writer's Digest self-published competitions, it's my mini-Christmas when the books arrive. I can't help but be in awe of the work these authors have done. At the same time, I have to admit that I feel strong disappointment when an incredible book has a critical flaw—as in a mistake that I simply can't look beyond no matter how great everything else is—especially when that critical flaw is a common occurrence amongst self-published books. The world of writing help often points to writing in general, yet I think that self-publishing is a genre unto itself. Therefore, here are five pieces of advice I'd give to someone planning to self publish. 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 >> Waiting for Inspiration to Strike Everyone makes mistakes—even writers—but that's okay, because each mistake is a great learning opportunity. The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many mistakes over the years, so we're starting this series to help identify them early in the process. Note: The mistakes in this series aren't focused on grammar rules, though we offer help in that area as well.  (75 grammar rules for writers.) Rather, we're looking at bigger picture mistakes and mishaps, including the error of using too much exposition, neglecting research, or researching too much. This week's writing mistake writers make is waiting for inspiration to strike. 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