Writer's Digest

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This week, we're focusing on key tips to take your writing up a notch, no matter your genre or story idea. 6 Lessons for Writers From Bridgerton: The Duke and I, by Julia Quinn There are some pieces of writing advice that are so common that everyone knows them. One such piece of advice is that writers learn to write by reading other writers. So let's take a look at Julia Quinn's romance novel, Bridgerton: The Duke and I (that was originally published as The Duke and I). If you haven't read this novel yet, please go read it first. Then, come back and see if you agree with these lessons—or if you have additional lessons to share. Consider this your spoiler alert. Read the full article... What's New The #1 Way to Bulletproof Your Story Idea and Logline to Make Sure It Sparks Interest in the Industry Alex Bloom, founder of the Script Reader Pro screenplay consultancy, explains how to bulletproof your story idea and logline using one simple template. Read More... FightWrite™: Knife Fights, Part 2 In the last of this two-part answer, author and trained fighter Carla Hoch explains the physical mechanics behind a knife fight and provides useful tips for your next project. Read More... Fragrance Notes Writer's Digest Weekly Writing Prompt Look at the description of the scent of a bottle of perfume or cologne. What notes does the maker list? Include each of these words in a scene or story. Read More... Writing Romance in Today's Market Last Chance to Register! Just in time for Valentine's Day, join literary agent Kimberly Brower on Thursday, February 11 and learn how you can stand out in the growing romance market. In this live webinar, she will go over many things romance authors should consider no matter where they are in their career. Learn More & Register... In the Company of (Historical) Women, Part 2 A Script Magazine Feature Devon Ellington gives a glimpse into this unique program that cultivates writers to pay homage to nearly forgotten historical female figures. Read More... Breaking into Copywriting 101 Writer's Digest University Writing is your passion. Why not make it your day job, too? Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter, novelist, playwright, or even just an avid reader, you can turn your love for words into a lucrative career as a professional copywriter. Learn More... 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. Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA

 

Last Chance to Register!   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—what avenue of publishing you should explore, what publishers are looking for, and whether you need an agent, and if so, how to get one. Whether you are self-publishing and/or looking to be traditionally published, a debut author, or a seasoned vet, staying up to date on the ever-changing market. Literary agent Kimberly Brower represents several NYT and USA Today bestselling romance authors, both traditionally and self-published. She also has experience launching debut romance authors with traditional publishers, many of whom she found through her query pile. In this live webinar, she will go over many things an author should consider no matter where they are in their career. She'll give insight on what to think about while writing your novel, how to query literary agents in a way that will grab their attention, and once you have their attention, what questions you should ask to ensure you have found “the right one” for you. Kimberly will discuss many of the things she looks for in a potential client and walk you through a checklist of things you should consider in your search for an agent. After investing so much time in writing your romance novel, you want to do everything you can to explore all opportunities and possibilities available and an agent can be a great ally to have on your journey to becoming a published author.   An overview of today’s romance market Tips on making your romance novel the best it can be A look at traditional publishing vs. self-publishing Tips for making your query letter stand out to an agent Querying Dos and Don'ts The importance of the agent/author relationship and much more! Romance writers who have written a novel and need advice on what to do next Romance writers who feel a little stagnant in their career Romance writers who are looking for an agent Writers looking for tips on writing a query Writers who have already queried agents but haven't heard anything back Writers who are thinking about writing romance Writers who want to hear an agent's perspective     Last Chance! February 11, 1:00 PM ET   SIGN UP NOW!   Instructor: Kimberly Brower   Kimberly Brower fell in love with reading when she picked up her first Babysitter’s Club book at the age of seven and hasn’t been able to get her nose out of a book since. She holds a BS in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge and received her JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. After spending a decade in the business world, it was kismet that she found herself in publishing. She takes great pride in her client list, from the debut authors to #1 NYT bestsellers, and likes to consider them all her favorite authors. She previously worked for over two years at a boutique literary agency before starting her own. After spending 14 years in California, she is thrilled to be back on the east coast.     Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA   In this issue, we share a recently updated list of 20 literary agents actively seeking writers, lessons learned from Bridgerton: The Duke & I, a new flash fiction challenge, and more!  20 Literary Agents Seeking Writers Earlier this week, I updated our list of 20 literary agents actively seeking writers with our most recent new agent alerts. Newer agents are great, because they're the most likely to be interested in your project if it's good and a good match for what they're seeking. So let's get into this. Read the full article... Craft & Business of Writing Join the 1st February Flash Fiction Challenge! We're four days into February now, but there's still plenty of time to join and catch up on our first ever February Flash Fiction Challenge! Each morning, editor Moriah Richard shares a prompt and example short short story; then, writers from around the world write their own, some sharing in the comments and others writing along silently at home. Find the prompts and guidelines for this free challenge here. Read More... How I Used Grad School to Write My First Novel It was my husband who first suggested that I just write my novel. Just? What did he know about it? I had recently graduated with a PhD in English but had decided not to pursue an academic job, and the reality was sinking in. The way I saw it, I had spent six years destroying my mental health and racking up a mountain of debt, only to come out the other side with nothing but a degree that overqualified me for normal jobs and a dissertation no one would ever read. Read More... 6 Lessons From Bridgerton: The Duke & I There are some pieces of writing advice that are so common that everyone knows them. One such piece of advice is that writers learn to write by reading other writers. So let's take a look at Julia Quinn's romance novel, Bridgerton: The Duke and I (that was originally published as The Duke and I). If you haven't read this novel yet, please go read it first. Then, come back and see if you agree with these lessons—or if you have additional lessons to share. Consider this your spoiler alert. 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. Gain a critique of your manuscript, query letter, synopsis, and more! Click here to learn more >> Keys to Building Conflict in Romance Novels As a romance acquisitions editor, I find that one of the biggest problems writers struggle with is creating a believable conflict, or series of conflicts, that will sustain the novel its entire length. Conflict is the core of any work of fiction—it's what makes your readers care what will happen next. 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       A Special Offer from our Trusted Partner Hello Writer, If you’re new to the world of publishing and getting paid for your writing, it’s normal to have “writer’s nerves.” These are the doubts, fears, anxieties, and worries that can keep you stuck and hold you back from the success you deserve as a talented writer But there is a way to put a stop to all those insecurities… to quit doubting yourself and confidently move forward.. The Definitive Blueprint for Making Good Money as a Freelance Writer functions as a cure for writer’s nerves. Get instant access to your free copy now. Assembled by working writers and industry experts, it walks you step-by-step through everything you need to understand about making a very comfortable, secure living as a professional copywriter. You’ll learn where the best opportunities can be found, how to rapidly break into top markets, and what to do to have happy clients begging you to do more work for them each and every month of the year… which means more money for you as a writer! It’s a fast read, and a fun one, too. Plus, for a limited time, it’s yours FREE. Click here for free, instant access to The Definitive Blueprint now. To your success, Rebecca Matter President, American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI)   Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA

 

This Week's Webinar   Writing Romance in Today's Market In this live webinar, Kimberly Brower 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. This Thursday! February 11, 2021 SIGN UP NOW!   Featured Course Mastering Amazon for Authors Enroll in one of the most popular courses at WDU! Mastering Amazon for Authors is the premiere online course designed to help you maximize book sales at the world’s largest retailer. Learn inside secrets from Rob Eagar, one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in America. February 25 - April 22   REGISTER NOW! Self-Paced Courses - Only $19.99     How to Plot and Structure Your Novel   Voice and Viewpoint   Fundamentals of Poetry Writing   Description and Setting   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. February 25-28, 2021   REGISTER NOW! Explore More Resources     Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA     Learn from one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in America!   Not sure if the course is right for you? Click here to register for a FREE preview webinar! Did you know? Amazon sells nearly 50% of all print books and over 70% of all e-books in America. These facts present a major wake-up call for authors. If you want your book to reach its full sales potential, then you must learn how to sell more books on Amazon. Failure to grasp this reality means dire consequences for your book sales.   It doesn’t matter if you’re self-published or traditionally-published…if you write fiction or non-fiction…if you’re a first-time author or an experienced veteran. Today, success for every author hinges upon selling more books on Amazon.   Mastering Amazon for Authors is the premier online course designed to help you maximize book sales at the world’s largest retailer. This self-guided video course provides in-depth instruction for authors at every level. Learn inside secrets from Rob Eagar, a top Writer’s Digest instructor and one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in America. Rob removes the guesswork from publishing and promoting your books on Amazon. His expertise will show you how to: Convert more sales when readers view your book on Amazon Secure more persuasive customer reviews for free Get your books noticed on Amazon's huge website Build your author email list using Amazon's massive audience Create inexpensive Amazon ads that drive readers to your books Self-publish e-books and paperbacks using Amazon’s KDP system Rob’s instructional videos take you behind the scenes into Amazon’s system. Discover how to self-publish any type of fiction or nonfiction book. Learn how to create effective book ads and boost sales, no matter your genre or experience level. In addition, Rob is available to answer your questions during the course to help you make rapid progress.   RECEIVE 2 SPECIAL BONUSES WHEN YOU SIGN UP TODAY! Marketing expert Rob Eagar will personally review one of your books on Amazon’s website and provide written recommendations to help increase your sales! Get a FREE e-book from Rob: The Author’s Guide to Write Text that Sells Books     Watch a Preview Video:     "Rob is a personable, professional and upbeat instructor who makes you want to get all you can out of Amazon, as an author. Great information, well explained, with valuable tips, lists, and handouts. Money well spent!" “I LOVED this course. The wealth of information from Rob Eagar’s videos was beyond my expectations. And, reading Rob’s answers to questions from other students was nearly as informative, because I had many of the same questions myself.”  "PHENOMENAL, ROB! Mind blown. So comprehensive. I feel confident moving forward as I launch my book in both paperback and Kindle form. I feel like I have the tools now to confidently navigate Amazon."     February 25 - April 22   HURRY, SEATING IS LIMITED!   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 450 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. In 2007, he launched his consulting practice, Wildfire Marketing, to help authors sell books like wildfire. Today, Rob routinely consults with authors who’ve made the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists!     Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA   The Keys to Conflict in Romance Novels   As a romance acquisitions editor, I find that one of the biggest problems writers struggle with is creating a believable conflict, or series of conflicts, that will sustain the novel its entire length. Conflict is the core of any work of fiction—it’s what makes your readers care what will happen next.   (Forced Proximity: 50 Reasons for Your Characters to Be Stuck Together)   In romance, everyone already knows how the book is going to end (happily ever after), so there is no tension over the outcome; the tension (and the page turning) must come from some other source. At least some part of the conflict must be between the hero and the heroine. No romance reader wants to read about how the plucky heroine met the strong, sexy hero and they realized they were right for each other and everything was awesome once they got rid of those pesky cattle rustlers. That might make an interesting story, but it is not a romance. 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: Head Over Heels   For this week's prompt, have a character fall in love. Since love is an abstract emotion, I'll leave it to you to decide what "love" means. But it could be a regular occurrence as with a Romeo character. Or it might be a once-in-a-lifetime thing with a character who previously scoffed at the idea of love and lovers.   (6 Lessons for Writers From Bridgerton: The Duke and I, by Julia Quinn.)   Of course, as Huey Lewis pointed out in the 80s, the power of love is a curious thing. When it comes to storytelling, the introduction of love can make a tough character suddenly docile in ways that can be annoying for other characters and funny for the reader. Love also propels characters to great and terrible things; it's not all sunshine and roses all the time.   Some characters fall in love at first sight. Other characters are nudged along by rumors and love letters. Still other characters might be on the receiving end of a love potion or spell. The result may be weddings and celebration, or it may send kingdoms (or neighborhoods) to war. Read More...   This Week in Writing   2/8—Jules Verne born 1828 2/8—John Grisham born 1955 (10 rules for suspense fiction) 2/9—Amy Lowell born 1874 2/9—Fyodor Dostoyevsky died 1881 2/9—Paul Laurence Dunbar died 1906 2/9—Alice Walker born 1944 (10 Walker quotes for writers) 2/11—Sidney Sheldon born 1917 2/11—Sylvia Plath died 1963 2/11—Frank Herbert died 1986 2/11—Peter Benchley died 2006 2/12—Charles Darwin born 1809 2/12—Abraham Lincoln born 1809 2/12—Judy Blume born 1938 2/12—Jacqueline Woodson born 1963 (Extended interview with Woodson) 2/12—Charles M. Schulz died 2000   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 P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA       Active Interest Media, P.O. Box 20730, Boulder, Colorado 80308, 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 Webinar: 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.   Courses Starting This Week:    12 Weeks to a First Draft Instructor: Mark Spencer 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.   Writing the Romance Novel Instructor: Terri Valentine Do you yearn to write a romantic story? If so, you need to know what sets romance writing apart from other types of fiction. This workshop will help you to understand those specific factors that make up the specialized world of romantic fiction.   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.   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.   Grammar and Mechanics Instructor: Kelly Boyer Sagert Do you remember the difference between the 8 parts of speech and how to use them? Are you comfortable with punctuation and mechanics? No matter what type of writing you do, mastering the fundamentals of grammar and mechanics is an important first step to having a successful writing career.   Writing the Picture Book Instructor: Holly Alder 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 package that a publisher will really notice.   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.   Upcoming Webinars:   Blogging Strategies That Work in 2021 with Jane Friedman March 11, 1:00 PM EST There are a lot of mixed messages out there about blogging. When pursued with knowledge of the craft, blogging can be one of the straightforward paths to build and engage a readership over the long term for authors. In this 90-minute webinar, Jane Friedman will teach you the principles of strategic blogging for authors and the best practices she’s learned since she started blogging consistently in 2008.   What Agents and Editors are Looking for in First Pages with Katie Shea Boutillier March 18, 1:00 PM EST The importance of first pages in query submissions can't be overstated. Your ultimate goal is to make sure your readers (agent, editors, and beyond) are into your work immediately. In this webinar, literary agent Katie Shea Boutillier will provide a step-by-step demonstration on the importance of strong first pages, focusing on voice, tone, mood, setting, urgency, pace, description, dialogue, and a natural approach to your characters.   Featured Course:   Mastering Amazon for Authors Instructor: Rob Eagar February 25 - April 22 Enroll in one of the most popular courses at WDU! Mastering Amazon for Authors is the premiere online course designed to help you maximize book sales at the world’s largest retailer. Learn inside secrets from Rob Eagar, one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in America. Rob removes the guesswork from publishing and promoting your books on Amazon.   Upcoming Boot Camp: Agent One-on-One: First 10 Pages Boot Camp with Talcott Notch Literary Services February 25-28, 2021 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     Learn from Six Best-Selling Authors!   Writer's Digest University is pleased to present an exclusive online event for mystery & thriller writers! On March 26 and March 28, our 7th Annual Mystery & Thriller Virtual Conference will provide expert insights from SIX award-winning and best-selling authors on the finer points of how to write within the mystery and thriller genres. Spend the weekend learning techniques for honing your 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 mystery or thriller genre. The agent will provide you with a personalized critique of your query – and maybe ask to see more. Click here to see the schedule of sessions!   All participants will benefit from: SIX all-new, one-hour webinar presentations provided by award-winning and bestselling mystery & thriller authors*, all examining different aspects of writing novels in these genres. Each session will include an opportunity for live Q&A with the authors! A critique (with written feedback) of your query letter from an agent with experience in the mystery and thriller genres. A bonus 90-minute On Demand webinar covering how to write a query letter so you’re prepared when pitching your novel to agents. (A $79.99 value!) The ability to network with mystery and thriller writers via discussion boards that will be open throughout the weekend. Share ideas, and even your work if you choose. Unlimited OnDemand viewing! All conference sessions will be made available for download in the week following the live presentations. Even if you can’t attend every session live, you will be able to view each lecture on your own whenever you choose.     Experience the education, camaraderie, and opportunities provided by a live writing conference without ever having to leave your home!   March 26-28, 2021   LEARN MORE!   Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA In this issue, we share a recently updated list of 20 literary agents actively seeking writers, lessons learned from Bridgerton: The Duke & I, a new flash fiction challenge, and more!  20 Literary Agents Seeking Writers Earlier this week, I updated our list of 20 literary agents actively seeking writers with our most recent new agent alerts. Newer agents are great, because they're the most likely to be interested in your project if it's good and a good match for what they're seeking. So let's get into this. Read the full article... Craft & Business of Writing Join the 1st February Flash Fiction Challenge! We're four days into February now, but there's still plenty of time to join and catch up on our first ever February Flash Fiction Challenge! Each morning, editor Moriah Richard shares a prompt and example short short story; then, writers from around the world write their own, some sharing in the comments and others writing along silently at home. Find the prompts and guidelines for this free challenge here. Read More... How I Used Grad School to Write My First Novel It was my husband who first suggested that I just write my novel. Just? What did he know about it? I had recently graduated with a PhD in English but had decided not to pursue an academic job, and the reality was sinking in. The way I saw it, I had spent six years destroying my mental health and racking up a mountain of debt, only to come out the other side with nothing but a degree that overqualified me for normal jobs and a dissertation no one would ever read. Read More... 6 Lessons From Bridgerton: The Duke & I There are some pieces of writing advice that are so common that everyone knows them. One such piece of advice is that writers learn to write by reading other writers. So let's take a look at Julia Quinn's romance novel, Bridgerton: The Duke and I (that was originally published as The Duke and I). If you haven't read this novel yet, please go read it first. Then, come back and see if you agree with these lessons—or if you have additional lessons to share. Consider this your spoiler alert. 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. Gain a critique of your manuscript, query letter, synopsis, and more! Click here to learn more >> Keys to Building Conflict in Romance Novels As a romance acquisitions editor, I find that one of the biggest problems writers struggle with is creating a believable conflict, or series of conflicts, that will sustain the novel its entire length. Conflict is the core of any work of fiction—it's what makes your readers care what will happen next. 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