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Blogging Strategies That Work in 2021
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.
Next Week!
March 11, 2021
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What Agents and Editors are Looking for in First Pages
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.
March 18, 2021
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Find and Keep a Literary Agent
How do you hook an agent right away, keep them hooked, and make the
most of your new publishing relationship? In this boot camp, you'll
learn how to get a literary agent’s attention through a great
submission as well as how to work with them successfully.
March 16-19,
2021
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Upcoming Virtual
Conference
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7th Annual Mystery and Thriller Virtual Conference
Gain expert insights from SIX award-winning and best-selling authors on
the finer points of how to write within the mystery and thriller
genres. Then, pitch your novel via query letter to a literary agent
specifically looking for material in the mystery or thriller genre.
March 26-28,
2021
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Active Interest Media
P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA
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There are a lot of
mixed messages out there about blogging and whether authors need to do
it. If you want to save time, money, and energy, here’s the easy
answer: Blogging is not critical for every author and you don’t have to
do it. So if you’re eager to be let off the hook, you have permission
to ignore blogging altogether. But blogging isn’t dead—it’s changed.
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. At its heart, blogging is its own genre of writing
and can be a wonderful creative outlet that doubles as one of your
marketing superpowers. But for blogging to have a real payoff for your
career, it has to be done with a particular strategy in mind, and
executed with some discipline.
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. She’ll
discuss what blogging is (it’s a funny term and its meaning has
changed), how to get readers for your blog, and point to the key
strategic models used by author-bloggers today. (Jane’s model: content
marketing. Another one is literary citizenship.)
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- What
blogging can accomplish and what it can’t accomplish (hint:
blogging will rarely secure you an agent or editor—that’s a poor
goal to have)
- Why
blogging tends to be a failed enterprise if you’re posting your
poems, short fiction, or memoir material on your blog (novel
excerpts or serializations also don’t work)
- A
discussion of who should not blog (perfectionists, for one)
- The
importance of cornerstone content to your long-term success and
readership
- How
to research the blogging community and identify your “competitors”
(who should turn into your colleagues or collaborators in the end)
- and
much
more!
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- First-time
and unpublished authors who have heard that they should blog to
build their platform, but aren’t sure if it’s right for them or
the best use of their time
- Published
authors who have tried blogging but feel like it’s been a muddle
- Authors
writing and publishing books in any genre who think blogging might
be a good way to market and promote, but aren’t sure how to go
about it properly
- Creative
writing students and graduates of MFA programs who want to blog to
open up career opportunities or build their platform
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Instructor:
Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman has
20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in
business strategy for authors and publishers. She has been blogging
professionally since 2008, and her current blog at JaneFriedman.com enjoys
more than 100,000 visits per month.
Jane’s newest book is The
Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago
Press); Publishers
Weekly said that it is “destined to become a staple
reference book for writers and those interested in publishing careers.”
Her expertise has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington
Post, NPR, PBS, CBS, the National Press Club and many other outlets.
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23 Authors on Writing Mystery &
Thriller
Like most people, I
love a good mystery. There's something appealing to
collecting puzzle pieces and trying to fit them
together to see what they make. And like many, I love a
good thriller that keeps me up late at night to find
out what happens next. So it only makes sense to
collect some of the best advice from authors on the
subject of writing mystery and thriller novels that
readers love.
(How to
Write a Mystery Novel.)
We've
got advice on writing cozy mysteries, psychological
thrillers, and crime fiction. Of course, there's great
advice on building suspense, inserting humor, and
handling little things like time of death. And it's
entirely possible we'll add to this list over time.
But
for now, be sure to enjoy the tips and quotes below and
click on the links to read the full post that covers
each topic in more depth. Read the full article...
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For writers
in all genres at all levels. Talks, writing groups, one-to-ones with
literary agents, keynotes: Diana Gabaldon (Outlander) and
author/illustrator, Chris Riddell, and more!
June 24-27, 2021 www.writersweekend.uk
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Plot Twist Story Prompts: Forced Decision
For this week's
prompt, force a character to make a decision. The
decision could be seemingly low stakes, like where to
have dinner. Or you can ramp up the stakes and make
your character decide between taking the cash or saving
their friend/love interest.
(4 Types of
Conflict.)
How
characters handle making decisions reveals a lot about
them. After all, some people seem born to make
decisions without a second thought to whether they're
right or wrong. Others agonize over the tiniest
decisions and will shut down if given the chance. For
some people, making a decision is a great fear on par
with heights, public speaking, and the unknown.
Read More...
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This Week in Writing
3/1—William Dean
Howells born 1837
3/1—Ralph Ellison born 1914
3/2—Theodor Geisel born 1904 (How the
Grinch Beat Writer's Block.)
3/2—D.H. Lawrence died 1930
3/2—Tom Wolfe born 1931
3/2—John Irving born 1942
3/2—Peter Straub born 1943
3/2—Philip K. Dick died 1982
3/4—Nikolai Gogol died 1852
3/4—William Carlos Williams died 1963 (Triversen:
Poetic Forms)
3/4—Khaled Hosseini born 1965
3/4—Dav Pilkey born 1966
3/6—Elizabeth Barrett Browning born 1806
3/6—Louisa May Alcott died 1888
3/6—Gabriel Garcia Marquez born 1927
3/7—Kobo Abe born 1924
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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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Courses
Starting This Week:
Getting Started in
Writing
Instructor:
Estelle Erasmus
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.
Read
Like a Writer: Learn from the Masters
Instructor: Mark
Spencer
Because there are no hard-and-fast rules to writing, it’s important to
study what other writers have done and how they consciously make
narrative decisions and meticulously select details based on audience
and purpose. This course will demonstrate that the best way to become a
good writer is to study the writing of others, especially the work of
the masters.
Blogging
101
Instructor: Dan
Blank
Don’t know how to start a blog? Not sure what to focus on? Don’t fret!
This online writing workshop will guide you through the entire blogging
process—how to create and setup a blog, where to start, and much more!
Writing
the Mystery Novel
Instructors: 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!
Travel
Writing
Instructor: Jack
Adler
When you take this six-week workshop, you'll discover how to become a
travel writer by exploring the different types of articles you can
write and developing your writing style. You'll learn travel writing tips
such as how to take your own photographs. Use this workshop to draft an
article that keeps readers captivated and garners interest from travel
editors.
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.
Writing
Online Content
Instructor:
Naveed Saleh
With the continued proliferation of online and virtual media, more
readers than ever before are turning to the internet for news and
opinions. This course will teach you how to effectively write online
articles of all types including news, feature articles, opinion
articles, alternative story forms (listicles, charticles, Q&As, and
more), and blog postings.
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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.
The Picture Book
Puzzle: Writing, Revising, and Querying Your Picture Book Manuscript
with Maria
Vicente
April 1, 1:00 PM EST
Join Maria Vicente and get your picture book on the
shelves. This webinar includes a live presentation, a Q&A session,
and a critique of your children's picture book manuscript that will
help you write, revise, and pitch your picture book long after the
webinar is over.
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Upcoming Boot
Camp:
How to Find and Keep
a Literary Agent
with Sandra
Dijkstra Literary Agency
March 16-19, 2021
How do you hook an agent right away, keep them hooked,
and make the most of your new publishing relationship? In this boot
camp, you'll learn how to get a literary agent’s attention through a
great submission as well as how to work with them successfully. Agent
feedback on your first five pages and query letter is included!
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Upcoming
Virtual Conference:
7th Annual Mystery
and Thriller Virtual Conference
with 7
Award-Winning Authors
March 26-28, 2021
Gain expert insights from SEVEN 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 seven different published authors, then pitch
your novel via query letter to a literary agent specifically looking
for material in the mystery or thriller genre.
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
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Announcing Chris Bohjalian as WDC Central Keynote!
Writer’s Digest is thrilled to announce the central keynote
for this year’s WD Annual Conference: New York
Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian.
Critically
acclaimed novelist Chris Bohjalian uses his gripping fiction to explore
contemporary social issues and how they play out in the
lives of ordinary people, as well as to shed light on some
of the most important moments in history. He is the #1 New
York Times bestselling author of 21 books including The
Sandcastle Girls, The Flight Attendant, The
Red Lotus, and Hour of the Witch (April 2021)
and his work has been translated into over 35 languages.
There are more exciting announcements coming soon,
so stay tuned! With more than 50 sessions and three days of education, fun, and
networking you can’t go wrong with The Writer’s Digest Annual
Conference—July 22 - 25, 2021
in New York City. Please
read our statement on COVID-19 here. Writers of
all backgrounds and experience levels will sharpen their
skills, pitch their
work to literary agents, and find inspiration in the words
of experienced mentors.
Reserve your
space today and save $100!
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The Writer's Digest team has #WDLoveWrites
on the brain! Whether you're an old hat at writing romance
or are including a subplot in your latest work, we have the
tools to help.
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If you're including romance in your story,
even as a subplot, it's important to craft a relationship
that is believable. In this 2019 article by Hallmark
publishing editor Bryn Donovan, we explore easy ways to get
your characters together organically and let sparks fly.
Bryn Donovan, WritersDigest.com,
December 2019
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When I read romance novel submissions in my
day job in publishing, I come across many that are
well-written, but are missing a strong reason for the two
main characters to see each other a lot. They just keep
randomly bumping into each other.
Many strong romance story ideas and plots
provide a reason for the characters to be together, even
though each person has a good reason not to get involved
with the other. In some cases, they don’t even like one
another … at least at first. This creates the kind of romantic
tension that keeps people reading.
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When circumstances throw characters together,
it’s often referred to as "forced proximity,"
although some people reserve that term to refer to a
specific romance novel trope in which characters are stuck
together in close quarters (having no choice but to share a
hotel room, for example).
Interaction is a key
element in plotting a romance.
When you solve the problem of “how can I force
my characters to be together a lot,” the rest of a romance
plot falls into place a lot more easily, with fewer plot
points that feel forced or strain credulity. We have plenty
of opportunities to see their relationship and their
attraction develop, and it’s much easier to create a
convincing HEA (“happy ever after,” as we say in romance).
Forced proximity can be
important in other genres, too.
If you’re writing about friendship or about
enemies or rivals, you will likely need good reasons for
two characters to be together for long periods of time. And
if you have any kind of romance subplot in your novel,
regardless of genre, forced proximity can work for you,
too.
Read the full article on our
website...
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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.
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7th
Annual Mystery and Thriller Virtual Conference
Gain 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 pitch your novel via query letter
to a literary agent specifically looking for material in
the mystery or thriller genre.
Learn More
& Register!
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A Special Offer from our Trusted Partner
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Introducing Authors to Agents
and Publishers
Register
by Friday, March 5th
The 2021 Book Pipeline: Unpublished
competition is exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across 6
categories of fiction and nonfiction:
Literary
Mystery / Thriller
Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Young Adult
Middle Grade
Nonfiction
Select publishers
and agents get first look at the top selection for each
category, including Katherine Tegen Books, Creative Artists
Agency, and Verve Publishing.
Book Pipeline
assists all runners-up and winners long-term with development,
manuscript reviews, and one-on-one guidance from our executive
team to prepare future projects for industry circulation.
In addition to:
- $15,000 to winners ($2,500
for each category winner)
- Immediate circulation to
publishers, agents, editors, and other execs
- Consideration from producers seeking
projects for film and TV adaptation
- Additional long-term review of other books
for potential circulation
*FOLLOW: Book Pipeline on Twitter and the
#PipelineAuthors hashtag - every Thursday, 5pm to 7pm Pacific.
We're hosting
weekly virtual mixers for authors, similar to our Script
Pipeline Friday night #PipelineWriters gatherings (which are
officially the most popular virtual mixers on Twitter for
writers--at least on Friday nights).
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It’s time that
self-published authors earn the respect they deserve. All that time you
spent writing and rewriting, editing, and making your own choices about
covers, layout, and distribution shouldn’t go unnoticed!
That’s why Writer’s Digest has been honoring self-publishing writers
for 29 years with the Self-Published Book Awards.
Here’s the
scoop: Submit your self-published, printed and bound book in one of
eight categories (mainstream/literary fiction, genre fiction,
nonfiction/reference, inspirational, life stories, early
reader/children’s picture books, middle-grade/young adult, poetry) for
a chance at:
- A Grand Prize package that includes $8,000, a
trip to New York City for the Annual Writer’s Digest Conference
and a feature article about you and your book in the March/April
2022 issue of Writer’s
Digest.
- One of eight First Place prize packages that
include $1,000 in each respective category and promotion in the
March/April 2022 issue of Writer’s
Digest.
Every entrant
will also receive a brief commentary from one of our qualified
readers—all who have experience in their respective categories and/or
the publishing world.
Ready to earn the recognition you deserve? Send us your book, which
must have been published between 2016 and now, and we’ll take care of
the rest. You’ll be well on your way!
The best deal on entering will expire on April 1, so enter now!
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Active Interest Media
P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 USA
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In this issue, we look at 100 tips for
writers from literary agents on how to submit their
writing, a new market spotlight, 100 common publishing
terms, and more!
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38 Query Letter Tips From Agents
Your first contact with a literary agent
is crucial, and the margin for error is slim. Is your
query amazing? Have you committed any common query letter
pet peeves? What etiquette is preferred when sending
requested material? Can you address an agent by their
first name?
(28 Agent
Tips Before You Submit | 34 Agent Pet
Peeves to Avoid)
So
many questions...
To
help you with the query letter and the submission
process, I've cobbled together some amazing advice
straight from literary agents in the publishing
trenches—reading through years of hashtags of agent info
on Twitter so you don't have to. Read the full article...
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Craft & Business of Writing
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Amara: Market Spotlight
Amara is an imprint of Entangled Publishing
focused on new upmarket single-title romance titles. They
use digital-first and traditional publishing models and
cover a range of romantic genres, including contemporary,
science fiction, paranormal, and historical. Read More...
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How to Create the Mental Space to Write
Virginia Wolfe may have written that every
woman must have "a room of her own if she is to
write fiction," but that isn't always a luxury
afforded to every author—regardless of their gender. Many
of us find ourselves fighting to find the space to write
in family-filled houses, shared apartments, or even
cramped studios. But it's the demands on our time and
energy that can be even more difficult to fit our writing
into. That's why creating the mental space to write is
vital, no matter what stage you're at in your writing
career. Read More...
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On Writing Representation in Fiction
The first two books I attempted to write I
didn't bother finishing. Although I enjoyed working on
the plots, I simply couldn't relate to either protagonist
and it caused me to lose interest in the creative
process. I set the books aside. I haven't looked at
either manuscript in years. Read More...
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Send Your Work to
2nd Draft Critique Services!
No matter your style or genre, 2nd Draft
offers a high-level view of your writing. 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 >>
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100 Common Publishing Terms
I've spent more than two decades in the
publishing (and/or media) business now, working on
everything from books to magazines to websites to
databases to events and, well, whatever allows me to
write and interact with other writers. Over time, it can
be easy to forget that publishing has its own jargon that
may not be familiar to people new to the business. Read More...
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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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Active Interest Media, P.O. Box 20730, Boulder, Colorado
80308, USA
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